By Prof. Lucio Leone

The Association, whose exact name is Association for Historic and Archaeological Research, was constituted in 1972, and was among the first of its type in Calabria. In the 1970s, the enthusiasm of its members immediately encouraged an intense activity in the Lamezian territory and in bordering regions, which resulted in the exploration of various localities already known for the presence of historical-archaeological materials: Santa Eufemia Vetere, San Sidero, Acconia, Palazzo, Piano delle Vigne, and others.

On these occasions, the Association collected its first objects, for the most part from the prehistoric age and from the Greek and Roman periods as well. It was during one of the first surveys in August 1974 at the Gardens of Renda, near the village of Santa Eufemia Vetere, where according to Lenormant and Orsi are to be found the remains of the city of Terina (a colony of Crotone), that the Association was able to recovered fortuitously a monetary hoard of 42 bronze pieces (3rd century B.C.) which represents one of the most important found in Calabria so far. .

From 1974 to 1980, the Association has gone through on of the happiest and most gratifying phases of its history. In 1974, 1976 and 1980 it was able to carry out three digging operations at the Roman villa (3rd and 4th centuries B.C.) at Pian delle Vigne, near Falerna. During these digs, the young members of the Association carried out regular and systematic excavations under the scientific direction of the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria, and brought to light the “pars rustica” of the villa (the working section and slave quarters, as opposed to the master's quarters). The achievements of the first dig were reported by the then Archaeological Superintendent of Calabria to the National Convention of Magna Grecia in Taranto. Of indubitable significance was also the 1978 discovery, in the area of the Lamezian airport, of a burial kit, consisting of a globular stamnos and an Attic lekythos with black figures, which gives witness to the presence of a Greek market on our plain and to the role of Terina in the first half of the 5th century B.C.

In 1981, to crown almost ten years of activity, the Association, in cooperation with the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria, had the chance to prepare a Show of archaeological documents pertaining to the Lamezian Plain, in localities placed at the disposal of the Community of Lamezia Terme. Along with its research activities, the Association has always pursued the objective of instituting an Archaeological Museum in the city, in which to protect, save, and display, along with the so-called “Leone collection,” all the material recovered over many years of exploration in the territory. This project, which began in 1994, thanks to an understanding between the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria and the Community Administration of Lamezia, and brokered by the Archaeological Association, was realized in July 1997 with the inauguration of the Lamezian Archaeological Museum, with its seat in an ancient building on Via Garibaldi in Nicastro.

Members of the Lamezian Archaeological Association together with volunteers
during excavations near the “Gardens of Renda” in 1997,
in the search for Terina. (Leone private collection)

At the same time, over June and July of that same year, the first excavation operation was carried out at the Gardens of Renda to search for ancient Terina. It was an undertaking that the Association very strongly desired and was financed by the Superintendency and the Community. The members of the Association made a worthy contribution to the first excavation as well as to the others conducted in the summers of ’98 and ’99. From ’97, the Association has been committed, among other things, to cultural volunteer activities, thanks to the competence of its members. It also offers ongoing guided tours to the Museum. In addition, it regularly prepares archaeological shows, and it participates every year in the Cultural Gifts Week, organizing conferences or other cultural activities.

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