Ricerc@Sapienza

The archaeological excavation of town of Cencelle, which began twenty-five years ago, has been an opportunity to reflect on the methods of lighting in a medieval town. In fact, both public and religious neighbourhoods and those with residential and craft functions have been excavated; moreover, documents and archaeological data have allowed the reconstruction of the places where daily life and work took place. In this work the ceramic, metal and glass products connected with instruments intended to shed light are presented, the analysis of which contributes to the verification of the tools used for artificial lighting; in addition, the urban structure and the settlement choices are also analysed, which reflect the light needs of the urban centre. On the subject, Cencelle has no direct written sources, so the material data from the excavation are compared with the historical and documentary data relating to contemporary cities. This type of work contributes to the understanding of the lighting methods of public and private spaces, as well as of the symbolic and ritual value that light had in the conception of a medieval town.