Sabine goddess Vacuna's sanctuary discovered in Montenero

Archaeologists from the University of Lyon, coordinated by Aldo Borlenghi and Matthieu Poux, have uncovered what is believed to be the first temple of the ancient Sabine goddess Vacuna in Montenero, between Rome and Rieti. The site, a hilltop sanctuary overlooking the Farfa river, was identified following a tip from local archaeologist Federico Giletti. Excavations began in 2019 and were delayed by the pandemic; the campaign is expected to last two more years. The 200-square-meter dig has revealed dry-stone walls, cocciopesto flooring, marble tesserae, terracotta roof tiles, burial pits, and favissae (votive deposits). Finds include a miniature uterus, a clay face, pyxides, jugs, and carbonized bases of braziers used in autumn ceremonies involving seasonal fruit and new wine. A cippus with a dedication to Vacuna, found in the 1950s, provides 99% certainty of the identification. All artifacts date to the 3rd century BCE, the time of the last Samnite War and Roman conquest of Sabina. The site also shows signs of use into the Middle Ages, with 11th-century burials. Finds are displayed in the garden of the church of San Cataldo, cleaned by students from the University Lumière Lyon 2. The mayor of Montenero, Lavinia De Cola, has supported the project.