NORMAN –A University of Oklahoma archaeological project in Orvieto, Italy will be the subject of an upcoming lecture by Claudio Bizzarri of the Istituto Internazionale di Studi Classici di Orvieto and David B. George of St. Anselm College, Manchester, N.H. “Uncovering the Past, Planning the Future: The Orvieto, Italy Roman Archaeology Dig” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Kerr Auditorium at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, Okla.

This summer, OU’s Center for Classical Antiquities again will sponsor a trip to Italy for students interested in participating in the project.  The international archaeological dig is sponsored by the Department of Classics at St. Anselm College and OU’s College of Arts and Sciences.  The project works in cooperation with the civic and archaeological officials in the Umbrian towns of Orvieto, Castel Viscardo and Monterubiaglio, and with the Soprintendenza per I Beni Archeologici dell’Umbria.   The Via Nova Roman Villa Dig is part of a long-term plan to excavate several Roman and Etruscan sites near Orvieto.  The first task is to excavate a Roman villa at the small town of Castel Viscardo, approximately eight miles from Orvieto. Findings on the first task so far suggest that a large Roman villa occupied the site overlooking the Paglia Valley.  It is one of numerous villas in the area that testify to the region’s importance in Roman history.

Bizzarri and George will discuss findings from last summer’s dig at the site, which involved 25 students from OU and St. Anselm College and the impact of those findings on what is known about the history of the region.  They also will discuss future plans for the development of a regional archaeological park in Italy.  Garold Mills, instructor in OU’s Department of History and coordinator for OU’s participation in the dig, also will be on-hand to answer any questions regarding enrollment in the project.