The territory of Basciano has been inhabited ever since Bronze and Iron Age; for this reason a series of excavations have been conducted on it since the late 19^th century .

The finds (siliceous stone arrow heads from the 3^rd millennium B.C.) attest that an Appennine culture arose here during the Neolithic.

The rests found within the San Rustico plain are also quite interesting as they testify of the presence of a Vicus, an important commercial centre set along the Via Salaria, that would have arisen during the Italic and Roman periods.

Parts of the settlement have been excavated along with earthenware, bronze objects, the ruins of a small temple and elements of nearby standing structures among which the bases of eight columns set in a double row, which probably belonged to an ancient portico or to a peristyle.

A vase representing an “old drunken women” is exhibited at the Teramo Museum. Inspired by Mirone's famous Anus ebria, it represents the first example of this genre to have been discovered in the occidental regions and to date back further than the north African production. An arula decorated with battle scenes (perhaps of an Amazonomachia) and another one representing a maenad are also noteworthy.

Evidence of the presence of necropolis have been excavated in many parts of Basciano's territory. In Zampitto, proto-Villanovan style tombs (containing rich bronze and iron grave goods) and in La Brecciola two further necropolis have been found, characterised by burial mounds and grave goods including iron and bronze weapons, ceramics shards and the rests of a war cart.

In 1896 an entombment was excavated in Santa Maria di Basciano, which probably belonged to a proto-historic necropolis situated in the lowlands stretching at the foot of the village.

The entombment, a pit dug into the earth and covered with pebbles, contained most certainly the body of a women of high social standing. This can be deduced from the absence of weapons as well as from the presence of ornamental objects, many of which in amber. 8^Th-century B.C. bronze jugs similar to further Etruscan style models from the Marches were found as well.

Information taken from the Rete Abruzzese della Cultura (Sezione Siti Archeologici