Otras Instituciones

The first site is San Potito, also known as San Potito Sannitico.62 San Potito is located directly east of Alife, on the edge of the Montagna del Matese (fig. 10). Several artifacts were found in multiple locations in this area.63

61

I was not able to visit any of the sites that I will discuss, nor was I able to personally see any of the artifacts from the sites. All of my information has come from previously published material. Because of this, it has been very difficult to discuss aspects of chronology, as many of the artifacts lack securely datable contexts and are difficult to date stylistically. I have thus had to rely on the dates given in the previous publications. Also, in the course of my discussion I will not attempt to give dates for the polygonal masonry walls, other than saying that they are pre-Roman, as they can no longer be dated based on masonry styles. For these reasons, Table 1 does not contain any chronological references. It is impossible at this point to develop a more precise chronology without undertaking further archaeological analysis of the sites themselves.

62

This area is cited by Carafa (1997, 184; 1998, 213) as one of the potential boundary sanctuaries surrounding Alife. Caiazza (1990, 57) notes that the addition of the predicate ‘Sannitico’ happened after 1860. Oakley does not mention this site.

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The first deposit comes from the locality Conca dell’Arena, and was recovered under circumstances that were not carefully recorded.64 This deposit contains fourteen different artifacts that seem to be of local production, including terracotta figurines, terracotta heads wearing a hat or polos, two small coarseware vessels, and loom weights.65 One of the vases is a testum, and the other is an askos.66 There are some small covered heads, including a large flat bearded head with large eyes, which is similar to items from a deposit found at Ponte delle Monache, at Cales. According to Carafa, the most remarkable of these objects is a beautiful head wearing a polos, which he dates to the fifth or fourth century BC.67 He also mentions a figurine that dates to the fourth or third century BC, which depicts a bearded man holding a baby in his arms.68 The man moves toward the left and wears a long tunic that covers not only his head but also part of the baby.69 Carafa also describes what appears to be the oldest piece of the deposit, a figurine of a female who is wrapped in a garment and seated on a throne. The rendering of the figurine is rough and seems similar to other examples found at the nearby site of Presenzano/Rufrae, with the major difference being that the face of the Conca dell’Arena figurine is molded rather than incised.70 Carafa suggests that this figurine may date to the archaic period, and notes, “questa figurina è al momento l’unica rappresentazione di figura in trono, che potremmo ben considerare una divinità, da un

64

Carafa 1997, 184. Carafa (1997, 184 n. 724) says that the finds are currently housed in the Antiquarium of Piedimonte d’Alife. I have not seen the finds, nor did I come across any published photographs of the finds.

65

Caiazza 1990, 56; Carafa 1997, 184. Conta Haller (1978, 64) suggests that this material dates from the fourth and third centuries BC, but Carafa seems to feel otherwise.

66

Carafa 1997, 184.

67

Carafa 1997, 184.

68

Carafa (1997, 184) believes that this figurine represents a divinity.

69

Carafa 1997, 184.

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santuario italico.”71 He is assuming, then, that the deposit from Conca dell’Arena marks the location of an Italic sanctuary.72 He also notes that this figurine might indicate the presence of a chthonic cult, which is an appropriate type of cult for a boundary sanctuary.73 This certainly seems to be a votive deposit, perhaps marking a site that was used over a period of several centuries. The presence of such a deposit suggests that this was a rural cult site used for sacred activities.

The next deposit from the territory of San Potito comes from the locality Le Fate. This find is very different from the first, as it contains several parts of a small terracotta model of a sacred building, including fragments of three Ionic columns, part of a sloping roof, and a small pediment.74 The fragment of the pediment contains a female head carved in high relief.75 This is the only find reported from this deposit, and it may date to the fourth or third century BC.76 Although small temple models are not uncommon votive dedications, it is difficult to classify an isolated find such as this one. This item must be considered a sporadic find.

The final set of finds from this area comes from tombs that may have formed part of an archaic necropolis associated with the territory of San Potito Sannitico.77 These finds include four black glaze vessels and a red-figured gobletthat depicts two different dancing

71

Carafa 1997, 184.

72

Carafa (1997, 186) believes that the variety of objects found here may indicate that this site was used for the worship of more than one divinity.

73

Carafa 1997, 186.

74

Carafa 1997, 184; Caiazza 1990, 56. All of the parts are thought to belong to the same model.

75 Carafa 1997, 184; Caiazza 1990, 56. 76 Conta Haller 1978, 64. 77 Caiazza 1990, 52-53.

scenes.78 This necropolis may have been used over an extended period of time, as tombs from the Roman period were also noted in the area adjacent to the Samnite necropolis in the locality Le Torelle (fig. 15).79 These tombs and their associated artifacts are associated with a necropolis, and not a sanctuary.

At San Potito there are three different areas with three different classifications. At Conca dell’Arena, there is a votive deposit marking an area of cultic significance.80 It is located away from major settlements, perhaps suggesting that it was a rural sanctuary. The artifact found at Le Fate may have cultic associations, but because of the nature of the findspot and the lack of other associated artifacts, this item has to be considered a sporadic find and cannot be taken to represent a cult place. The Samnite and Roman tombs are probably necropoleis associated with settlements, and not part of a sanctuary.