GRAN CARRO

   A ninth-century to mid-eighth-century BC Villanovan site of about one hectare that owes its importance to its preservation (from being submerged in Lake Bolsena) and the discovery of wooden structures, wooden artifacts, and distinctive food remains. Apart from pottery and metal finds (including fish hooks), a number of relatively rare artifacts were found, including two wooden hammers and a wooden spindle whorl. The food remains included wild plums, hazelnuts, acorns, cultivated grapes, deer, and wild boar, as well as a small quantity of early cereals, legumes, weeds, sheep and goats, cows, pigs, and dogs. The level of water would have been some eight to ten meters lower in the Villanovan period. The site was perhaps associated with the nearby Villanovan cemetery of Capriola.