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Fossacava

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There are several significant quarries scattered among the Apuan Alps. For example, the house of Valsora is significant for the presence of the biolago and Tritone Alpeste Apuano within it. On the other hand, of a different geographic but especially historical nature is the Fossacava quarry, an excavation that has become of considerable importance thanks to archaeological discoveries conducted by the Municipality of Carrara between 1977 and 1980 and later in 2015. The excavation operations defined Fossacava as the most important quarry dating back to Roman times in the Apuan region. Dating back to the first century AD, the quarry produced a type of marble that the ancients called Azzurro Variegato, today’s Nuvolato Apuano, as described by historian and geographer Strabo. In ancient Rome, in fact, this type of marble was particularly prized so much so that it was used for the construction of fountains, colonnades and other various urban works.

Historical sources report that mining activity in the area was so intense that it involved the employment of slaves and prisoners of war. The frenetic activity thus extended even into the night hours, illuminated by the dim light of torches. But how did marble mining work? At that time there were no modern systems for extracting the material, but there were at the same time ingenious methods involving the creation of a trench to separate the marble block from the wall. At that point wet logs were inserted, which, as they expanded, made it easier to detach the blocks from the mountain. Numerous archaeological finds from settlements unearthed in the area confirm that slaves lived near the quarries, and moreover, among the artifacts discovered during excavations conducted between 1925 and 1930 is a small white marble statue depicting a female deity, identified as Artemis, the goddess of hunting and wilderness. The specific use the statue would have had is unknown, but it is fascinating to imagine it within a temple dedicated to her, as a votive statue, ex-voto, or perhaps placed on a column for purely ornamental purposes. In addition to this, the investigations conducted have made it possible to reconstruct the history of the quarry, including the types of marble extracted.

Quarries such as Fossacava possess great historical, cultural and morphological value. They offer a unique opportunity to explore the traces preserved in the stone and understand the methods used by the Romans to extract marble. In 2021, the site was opened to the public with a new and expanded trail, offering a comprehensive and informative narrative for visitors of all ages about the quarry’s history. For fans of archaeology and Roman history, the Fossacava quarry provides unique thrills and sensations, allowing visitors to learn more about the history of marble and the extraction techniques used in ancient times.