Ascoli Piceno: the Longobards
The
arrival of the Longobards in Ascoli in the year 578 AD was part of
the progressive expansion of this population in central and southern
Italy with the formation of the Ducato di Spoleto (in which Ascoli
became part of) and the Ducato di Benevento. The Longobard invasion
brought about a complete reorganization of the territory in regards
to both institutions and settlements, due to the defensive needs of
the new conquerors.
Castel Trosino
One of the most important and rare testimonies of the early Middle
Ages in central Italy is represented by the Necropolis of Castel
Trosino, discovered by accident in 1893. The Longobard settlement in
this site, already having a natural fortification given its
geographical position, dates from the end of the 6th century. The
principal burial area illustrates the simultaneous presence of
funerary traditions that are both late Roman and Longobard, evidence
that could serve to demonstrate an integration between the two
cultures.
Dress
The Archaeological Museum conserves only some of the objects from
the Necropolis of Castel Trosino (practically all of the material
relative to this site can be found at the Museum of the Early Middle
Ages in Rome); nonetheless, among the most precious objects are some
outstanding finds that make reference to feminine and masculine
dress of that epoch.
Giulio Gabrielli
The painter and erudite Giulio Gabrielli (1832-1910) though not an
archaeologist by profession, was responsible for the classification
of these finds in a scientific sense. He participated in the
campaigns of excavation as Inspector of the Superintendency and he
left written testimony in his notebooks with watercolor
illustrations.
Valle Castellana and toponymy
The military posts of the Longobards involved the entire area of
Valle Castellana between Ascoli Piceno and Teramo. Evidence of such
presence is given by the toponymy of Germanic origin relative to
this territory. For example, from "fara" (a settlement of armed free
men) derives the names of some towns in this area such as Leofara
and Faraone.
Courtesy of the Comune Ascoli Piceno
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