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GAIOLE IN CHIANTI HOME TO ARTIFACTS FROM THE CETAMURA EXCAVATION SITE

The Museum at the Origins of Chianti is open!

On June 9, 2023, as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of excavation at Cetamura by Florida State University, the Museum at the Origins of Chianti (Museo alle Origine del Chianti) at Gaiole in Chianti opened with a commemorative display.  It features a number of artifacts that constitute part of the permanent collection of the Etruscan section of the museum, within a setting that stresses the history of the FSU project. The opening was very well attended, including a number of alumni who once dug at Cetamura and a special group of VIPs from the US who are enthusiastic supporters of the work.

couple standing in museum
In the main hall, Nancy de Grummond welcomed distinguished collector and scholar Alexander Blaha, who drove from Austria to see the Etruscan artifacts from Cetamura in person.
people cutting ribbon
Miss Lily Raschi, daughter of Nora Marosi, wields the scissors to help Dr. de Grummond to cut the ribbon held by Gaiole Mayor Michele Pescini. In the back, from left to right, Francesco Verzuri, Jessica Rassau and Gabriella Carpentiero. To the right of Mayor Pescini is Emanuele Giunti, Vice Mayor of Gaiole.

THE THEME OF CETAMURA HISTORY

Entitled “Cetamura 50: Records, People, Memories (Materiali, persone, ricordi),”  the assemblage contrasts the methods of archaeology from the early years of the dig with some of the most modern technology in use today.  A Timeline at the beginning of the exhibition outlines the way in which the project developed through the years and in the middle of the same room is an “island” of old fashioned but cherished excavation paraphernalia.   Beginning as a part of an archaeology course in the Florida State University Study Center in Florence on September 9, 1973, the excavation soon was turned into a summer archaeology school stressing the training of students in the field.  In recent years, the program has expanded to include a significant component of student experience with archaeological museology. 

THE TEAM THAT PREPARED THE SHOW

The Mayor of Gaiole, Michele Pescini, presided over the opening ceremonies, along with Marco Firmati, the scientific director of the new museum. The museum building is under the general management of the firm Opera Laboratori of Florence.  Gabriella Carpentiero created the graphic designs for “Cetamura 50,” often utilizing black and white photographs to recall images made with film in cameras before the digital age. Nancy de Grummond collaborated with texts and labels. Nora Marosi, chief conservator for Cetamura, prepared the objects for display and Jessica Rassau, in tandem with the archaeological co-op Ichnos (Francesco Cini, president), planned and executed the ambitious installation of artifacts and technology in the various display areas. 

TECHNOLOGY THEN AND NOW

The show carries out the main themes by including abandoned technology such as a carousel projector alongside a modern innovative 3-D printer.  In between the devices are old-fashioned 35 mm slides and touchable 3-D printed vessels that are reconstructions of real, but often fragmented, Etruscan pottery displayed in a case nearby.  Many of the ancient artifacts came from the Etruscan sanctuary at Cetamura and from Well # 1.  A special section also recognizes the historic discovery of thousands of water-logged grape seeds from the well, with references to experimentation with ancient DNA content.

A crowd fills the main hall of the museum.
couple at stone artifact
Gregg Anderson, chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee, joins Nancy de Grummond to admire the sandstone wellhead from Well # 1.
A handsome display case donated to the museum by FSU holds numerous artifacts from the Etruscan well.
The 3-D printing area features numerous replicas of Etruscan pottery found at Cetamura.
people standing
The US Consul to Florence, Ragini Gupta, unable to attend opening night, later joined Nancy de Grummond and Michele Pescini for a private tour of the exhibition.
Dr. Holland Goldthwaite invited all the VIPs to attend the conference she spearheaded on “Flora and Fauna at Cetamura.”
Women in museum
Jessica Rassau and Nora Marosi express their satisfaction with the display, which they did so much to create.
Women in museum
Emanuela Stucchi, proprietor of Cetamura, joins Lora Holland Goldthwaite in front of a vintage image of their work together when Well # 1 was under excavation. Ema’s beloved dog Trendy on the left.
The Cetamura crew of 2023 washed away the dirt and put on clean clothes to make a fine appearance at the opening.
promotional poster
The Timeline of 50 years of excavations by FSU starts with Alvaro Tracchi, discoverer of Cetamura in 1964, who was present for the celebration of the Catholic mass on September 9, 1973.