Finding myself in Scoppieto, in the municipality of Baschi, Sunday 19 May I had the desire to revisit the archaeological site brought to light by the excavations begun in 1995 by the University of Perugia. Professor Margherita Bergamini and her students excavated for ten consecutive years, bringing to light the remains of a fine ceramic tableware factory dating back to the imperial age (1st century BC-1st century AD).
The production area extended across a large plateau near the Tiber river and belonged to two brothers who were members of the Plotidia gens, Lucius Plotidius and Lucius Plotidius Porsilius. The importance of this production settlement is demonstrated by the discovery of the ceramics produced there in various locations in the Mediterranean: Carthage, Cyprus, Crete, Alexandria in Egypt. This statement is confirmed by the stamps stamped on the products by the ceramist artisans.
The discovery of the archaeological site of Scoppieto has aroused great international interest. Numerous articles and books have been published. The finds found, including lamps and coins, are exhibited at the Antiquarium of the Municipality of Baschi. Unfortunately my visit to the archaeological site stopped in front of a closed gate, a faded warning sign, a total state of abandonment.
In the distance you could see the excavation through the tall grass. I wonder how all this is possible. Rather than making it accessible to tourists and the many walkers who follow the paths of the silent villages, rather than exploiting its potential for development and also for profit, the excavation is considered as a burden. The Baschi Antiquarium itself is only open on Sundays. How can the political class be so short-sighted?
