Acknowledgments
The genesis of this book traces back to my dissertation research defended in 2020 at the University of Michigan. Several people and institutions have enabled and assisted me in bringing this project to life. The work would not have been possible without the steadfast support of the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio dell’Umbria and the Polo Museale dell’Umbria.
I am deeply thankful to the archaeologists Giorgio Postrioti, Elena Roscini, Gabriella Sabatini, Giovanni Altamore, Luca Pulcinelli, and Luana Cenciaoli. Also, to the technical staff, in particular Enrico Bizzarri and Luca Bartolini, not only for facilitating the obtainment of the study permits but also for assisting me in my research and study trips across Umbria.
This research is the result of a long journey that encompassed the evolution from full confidence to loss of confidence and eventually to a restoration of confidence. Many people contributed to making this lonely yet thrilling adventure unforgettable. Their mentorship, counsel, friendship, and firm support immensely contributed to this endeavor: Nicola Terrenato, Celia Schultz, Elaine Gazda, Chris Rattè, Monika Trümper, Tesse Stek, Greg Woolf, David Potter, Andrea Gaucci, Vishal Kanhdelwahl, Paolo Maranzana, Gregory Tucker, Alexander Hoer, Emily Hurt, Antonios Vonofakos, and the Italian community I found in Ann Arbor.
The manuscript was written during my post-doc appointment at Charles University in Prague and published thanks to the kind support of the Faculty of Arts. I extend my gratitude to my colleagues at the Institute of Classical Archaeology for their consistent encouragement during the completion of this project. I dedicate this book to my parents, who gave me the freedom to chase my dreams.