La basilica tardo antica e altomedievale di Riva Ligure (IM). La lunga durata di un complesso ‘fuori scala’

The Basilica of Capo San Siro in Riva Ligure presents historical, archaeological, architectural, liturgical, and funerary features, which form the basis of detailed investigations within this study. These features facilitate the interpretation of the basilica as a structure that was out of scale in relation to the context in which it emerged and prospered, spanning Late Antiquity, the Early Middle Ages, and the High Middle Ages. Following an examination of the elements supporting the hypothesis that this liturgical center initially functioned as a rural diocese, several previously unpublished archaeological contexts, uncovered during recent excavations by the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, will be analyzed. These contexts will be scrutinized from the perspectives of stratigraphic sequences and associated material culture, reinforcing the argument that the foundation of the site should be dated to the 5th century AD. Furthermore, specific insights into the archaeological remains and early medieval discoveries at the site further corroborate the continued significance of this ecclesiastical complex within its territorial setting well beyond Late Antiquity. Additionally, fragmentary yet noteworthy written sources referencing the area during the High Middle Ages suggest further avenues of inquiry that merit comprehensive exploration in future research.