La chiesa altomedievale di Sant'Ambrogio a Montecorvino Rovella (Sa). Prima campagna di studi archeologici e storico-artistici

The early medieval church of Montecorvino Rovella (Salerno) has been known since the 1980s for its high-quality wall paintings - a Virgin Theotokos surrounded by Saints Ambrose, Simplicianus, Gervasius and Protasius - which raise important iconographic and historical questions."This contribution illustrates the first results of a multidisciplinary project, with observations on the cultural links between Montecorvino Rovella and the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno. Initial results suggest that the church was closely linked to the Carolingian world, although standing firmly in Lombard territory. Stratigraphic analyses have identified a unitary campaign of paintings covering the entire church, and ultraviolet/infrared photography has revealed geometric preparatory drawings in the apse. The review of old excavation reports also allows us to propose a new interpretation of the site as an elite funerary church. Finally, the geophysical surveys conducted inside and outside the church open promising avenues for a new campaign of excavations.