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Cosa
42.4109° N, 11.2865° E
About
Cosa was an ancient Roman city near the present Ansedonia in southwestern Tuscany, Italy. It is sited on a hill 113 m above sea level and 140 km northwest of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast. It has assumed a position of prominence in Roman archaeology owing to its excavation.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Byzantine outpost abandoned
late 6th–early 7th century
Earthquake and rebuilding
AD 51
Marked desertion
c. AD 80
Colonists resettled
197 BC
Restoration under Caracalla
3rd century AD
Second Punic War impact
218–201 BC
Via Aurelia connection
c. 241 BC
City walls constructed
273 BC
Foundation as a Latin colony
273 BC
Reported ruin and desertion
AD 417
Early medieval occupation and church
6th century
American excavations (first campaigns)
1948–1954
American excavations (later campaigns)
1965–1972
Fieldwork in the 1990s
1990s
Spanish universities excavation
2005–2012
Florida State University work
from 2013
Università di Firenze investigations
from 2016
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Storage Structures
Defensive Structures
Public and Civic Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Transportation and Communication Structures
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
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