ORTE (HORTA)

An Archaic, medieval, and modern settlement on a tuff plateau of eight hectares (130 meters above sea level) at the confluence of the middle Tiber and the Paranza stream in southeast Etruria. The site appears to have been continuously occupied from the Middle Bronze Age through the Recent and Final Bronze Ages, with probable occupation during the early Iron Age. The site was then certainly occupied continuously from the late eighth century until the Hellenistic period. There were three prominent cemetery areas (Le Piane, S. Bernardino, and Cappuccini). Le Piane appears to have been occupied from the Archaic period, whereas S. Bernardino and Cappuccini became more prominent in the Hellenistic period (especially the fourth and third centuries BC), although these results may have been distorted by the effect of antiquarian excavation.