he territory of Tuscia, today's province of Viterbo, was originally part of Etruria, an ancient land known to its first inhabitants (the Etrurii or Etruscans) as Hetruria or Aetruria.
Olive trees began to be widely cultivated in this area in the 5th Century BC, as a natural result of trade between the Etruscans, the Phoenicians and the Greeks of Magna Graecia.
Olive millstones have been discovered at many archaeological sites in the province of Viterbo. The early settlers' dedication to the production of olives and olive oil is beautifully depicted in the painted frescoes that adorn the walls of many Etruscan tombs.
Beginning in the 2nd Century the Romans refered to the area as Tusci or Tuscia. Tuscia became the official name of Etruria during the administrative reorganization of Italy under Emperor Diocletian (AD 284 - AD 305).
As wealthy Roman landowners moved into the area, they also started tending to olive trees by planting new groves around their villas in the countryside and pressing their harvests in private mills. The ruins of one of these villas, equipped with olive presses, can be visited today near Civita di Bagnoreggio.
Other towns around Tuscia, such as Fabrica di Roma or Civita Castellana, perfected the production of fine clay vessels which were used for centuries, catering to the shipping and storage needs of the extensive olive oil trade.
