L’Edificio 5 del Lotto 14 a Gonfienti (PO): ultimi dati dalle indagini archeologiche dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze

This paper presents the results of the archaeological investigations conducted since 2020 by the University of Florence in the area of Building 5, Lot 14, within the Etruscan settlement of Gonfienti (Prato). Carried out under a Ministerial Concession, the research focused on the area west of the monumental Building 1 and led to the discovery of a new residential structure within the settlement. The opening of two excavation areas (trenches UNI 1 and UNI 2) enabled extensive stratigraphic analysis, despite challenges posed by groundwater rise and numerous modern and contemporary disturbances. Building 5, located along the major gravel-paved road, appears as a Late Archaic residential complex whose planimetric organization is comparable to similar structures in central Italy. Analysis of the masonry structures, floor surfaces, and hydraulic installations has made it possible to distinguish at least four occupational phases of the building, spanning from the mid-6th to the late 5th century BCE, closely connected to the successive refurbishments of the road running along its frontage. Stratigraphic analysis and data interpretation, particularly from the southern rooms facing the road, suggest a possible functional conversion of the building during its later phases toward artisanal or commercial use. At this stage, the structure may also have been intended for public or external access, as indicated by the large hearth located within Room A. Overall, the evidence documents a complex settlement dynamic marked by structural and functional adaptations in response to urbanistic and environmental changes, thereby contributing significantly to the understanding of the organization and development of the Etruscan settlement of Gonfienti.