L'insediamento fortificato di Satrianum in età angioina. Fonti, strutture materiali e documenti archeologici di un centro di potere nella Valle del Melandro (PZ), in F. Sogliani, M. Osanna, L. Colangelo, A. Parente, Gli spazi del potere civile e religioso dell'insediamento fortificato di Torre di Satriano in età angioina

The medieval fortified settlement of Satriano (Potenza) has been studied from 2005, due to a huge and intense archaeological investigation headed by the School of Specialization in Archaeology of Matera, under a large project sponsored by the Region of Basilicata and the Municipality of Tito (PZ). It represents an “Archaeology of power" case-study, particularly significant for its structural characteristics, its location and the impressive articulation of its planimetric organization. With the recent widespread program of archaeological researches it was possible to comprehend the development of different phases in the chronological sequence, form the site sorted out to establish a structured system of territorial defence and control by the Normans (the first written sources date back to the end of XIIth century) to its desertion in post-medieval era. In the settlement it is possible to recognize an upper area, on the top of the hill, enclosed by walls, as the hierarchically most important space, including inside the seat of civil power - the big square tower – as the one of its' religious authority - the “Cathedral” and the fortified village developed on the slopes of the hill. Considerable seems to be the archaeological evidences related to the Angevin period, whose demographic situation registers an increase of “fuochi” from 151 to 224 in the second half of the XIIIth century. In this period the Cathedral was restored and in the cemetery of the religious area we observe an implementation of the richest tombs. The settlement was abandoned in the last decades of the XVth century, after the strong economic crisis of XIVth and XVth century, which will have serious consequences on the human settlement in the region of Basilicata. On the contrary, some sources testifies that the diocesan seat moved from Satriano to Campagna only in 1525. It is possible that even after the desertion of the medieval settlement, the Cathedral dedicated to St. Stephen, probably affected by some restoration activities, still play an important role in the territory, going on to celebrate the major religious solemnities.