1The Danish excavations at Pontecagnano were undertaken as a trilateral cooperation between the Chair of Classical Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen (represented by Prof. I. Strøm), the Dipartimento di Studi del Mondo Classico e del Mediterraneo Antico, Istituto Universitario Orientate, Naples (represented by Prof. B. d’Agostino), and the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Salerno, Avellino e Benevento (represented by the Soprintendente, first Dr. W. Johannowsky, and later Dr. G. Tocco), and-acting on behalf of the latter-the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Agro Picentino (when the project started directed by Dr. L. Cerchiai, later by Dr. A. De Lagi and Dr. A. Iacoe).

2The fieldwork was undertaken as three excavation campaigns in 1986, 1989 and 1990, followed by registration campaigns in 1987, 1991 and 1992. Having completed the excavation campaigns and the registration campaigns, an overall classification of the finds was made. In the years from 1993 onwards some of the former student participants of the excavations were entrusted with the cataloguing of one or more of the groups of material. Unfortunately, this procedure led to a fragmentation of the research, the more so, as some of the members of the group gave up archaeology altogether, and untimely abandoned the studies of their material groups.

3The project was from the outset directed by Prof. Ingrid Strøm. She continued to undertake the management of all fieldwork as well as the administrative work (fundraising etc.) involved in the project also after her retirement from the Chair of Classical Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen in 1990. In autumn 2002, however, she decided that she could not proceed. As representative of the Chair of Classical Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen, Dr. Annette Rathje suggested that I should undertake the final editing of the catalogue of finds, the analysis of the stratigraphy and the classification and analysis of the unfinished groups of material, in order to carry the publication of the Danish excavations to an end. The work has thus become a collective effort, even more than it was originally planned to be, and the various entries undoubtedly reflect the various scholars who have been involved in the work. All entries are therefore signed with the name of the individual author.

4The classification of the material follows the guidelines set up by Ingrid Strøm. In some classes of material registration and description as well as analysis of the groups were made by the same person(s). For a number of classes, however, both the catalogue and the analysis were made in Denmark, based on the descriptions and illustrations produced at Pontecagnano by various students and scholars1. The material was not accessible during the final preparation for publication, and consequently more detailed information on some of the catalogued finds is lacking (e.g. clay description and/or measurements). Instead of further delays, priority was given to the finishing and publishing of the manuscript.

5During fieldwork Marjatta Nielsen (1986-1987) and Helle W. Horsnæs (1989-1992) acted as assistants to Ingrid Strøm. Student participants of excavation and registration campaigns were: Helle Damgaard Andersen, Mette Fjeldhagen, Nanna Fog, Rune Frederiksen, Hakon Hylen, Kristina Winther Jacobsen, Dorte Tornehave Jensen, Anne Marie Jorgensen, Susanne Kober, Anita Lennerstedt, Birte Lundgreen, Birgitte Marcussen, Alexandra Nilsson, Ulla Helveg Orth, Henrik Schilling, Elisabeth Simonsen, Martin Söderlind, Birgit Tang, Hanne Thomasen, Margit von Mehren. In all excavation seasons workmen hired through the Museo Archeologico Nazionale dell’Agro Picentino provided stalwart help.

6The conservators Anne Christine Helms, Jan Petter Brennsund and Karin Lingström each took part in one or more excavation campaigns or registration campaigns.

7The drawings were prepared for publication by draftsman of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Poul Christensen (plans and sections), architect MAA Lars Davidsen (finds) and archaeologist Pernille Foss (plans, sections and finds).

8Special thanks should be given to Marshall Joseph Becker who analyzed the skeletal remains, and to Mikael Pedersen for his analysis of soil samples. I would also like to thank Peter Spring who revised the English.

9During the preparation of the publication I have received much valuable help and good advice from a number of colleagues: Pia Guldager Bilde, Kristina Winther Jacobsen, John Lund, Mette Korsholm, Birte Poulsen and Karen Slej. I am also grateful to Margit von Mehren for practical help and to Pernille Foss for her patience. I owe special thanks to Helle W. Horsnaes for her efforts and our excellent collaboration.

10Thanks are due to the Faculty of the Humanities, University of Copenhagen, for financing the work done by Pernille Foss and the English revision.

11The Pontecagnano project (fieldwork and preparation for publication) was financed by the Carlsberg Foundation. I personally would like to express my warmest gratitude to the Foundation for two generous grants; the first that enabled me to work fulltime on the preparation of the present publication for a period of fifteen months, and the second that financed the publication.

12I am particularly grateful to the Director of the Centre Jean Berard, Dr. Jean-Pierre Brun, for accepting the book for publication and to the entire staff of the Centre Jean Berard, especially to Marina Pierobon and Maria Francesca Buonaiuto for their invaluable work with the illustrations and the final layout.

Brigit Tang
2006