FOSSO DEL MANDRIONE E VALLE OSCURA

DESCRIPTION

The Fosso del Mandrione, surrounded by the Bosco di Valle Oscura, originates from a spring that flows in an area of ​​great historical, archaeological and naturalistic value in the Soriano area. The name “Mandrione” derives from the word “herd” and indicates a landscape of herds. Here, in an uncontaminated nature, which gives the place mystery and splendor, lives a fauna consisting of: wild boars, foxes, porcupines, squirrels, badgers, woodpeckers, buzzards, crayfish, red frogs. For the vegetation prevail oaks, turkey oaks, hornbeams, dog rose, elder, hazel, hawthorn.
From the numerous finds that have come to light, it can be said that the area was populated since prehistoric times; to ascertain this are natural cavities, caves and rocky environments used as homes. The most evident traces belong to the Etruscan-Roman civilization. Two barrages of waterways are of particular interest, in peperino, an example of polygonal work. There are, then, various stretches of ancient roads, deeply embedded in the tuff: these are the so-called “vie cave” or “tagliate”. In Valle Oscura there is also the Etruscan-Roman necropolis of “Rottelle” (caves), which has many chamber tombs dug into the tuff, in some of which traces of painting are evident.
However, there are also well tombs and a singular sepulchral monument consisting of a large monolithic pillar in tuff, carved from the living. Finally, several fragments testify to the presence of medieval settlements, as can be deduced from the traces of a small church.

ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

D’ARCANGELI V., Soriano nel Cimino nella storia e nell’arte, Viterbo 1981.
NARDI G., Le antichità di Orte, Roma 1980.
SANNA M. – PROIETTI L., Ricerche archeologiche lungo la “Via publica Ferentiensis” e le sue diramazioni, Viterbo, 2007.
STEINGRABER S. – PRAYON F., Monumenti rupestri etrusco-romani tra i Monti Cimini e la Valle del Tevere, Grotte di Castro (VT) 2011.