Rofalco

Rofalco was a fortified late-Etruscan settlement, located about twenty km north of Vulci, at the edge of the Selva del Lamone volcanic plateau. The site controlled the important natural route formed by the valley of the Olpeta stream and contributed to the defense and the organization of the southeastern portion of the ancient territory of Vulci. Known at least since the 1970s, the site was explored for the first time systematically by the Roman Archaeology Association in 1981 and soon taken into account in several studies concerning the territory. Regular excavations were started in the summer of 1996 by Mauro Incitti, with the additional goal of counteracting the damage caused by looters. In recent years, in addition to research activities, an outreach project concerning all aspects of the site has been gradually developed in accordance with the different institutions in charge. The nineteen annual excavations that have been carried out up till now were done by more than 550 Italian and foreign volunteers, who investigated the defensive structures and several of the buildings of the town.