Augusta – Terravecchia
Name
Area of surface discoveries from prehistoric, Greek and Byzantine periods. (A2.5)
Underwater discovery. (D)
Description
In a news story from the end of the 1765th century. we read of the discovery in XNUMX, at the southern end of the Augusta peninsula, of skeletons and flint knives; this circumstance has led to the hypothesis of the existence of a prehistoric necropolis with cave tombs dug into the cliff. A subsequent phase of occupation is documented by the recovery of fragments of black-painted pottery and achromatic pottery from the Byzantine period. In the absence of excavation data, it has been assumed that human nuclei have occupied the southern area of the peninsula over the centuries and probably in a stable manner since the Bronze Age.
The toponym Terravecchia derives, according to tradition, either from an "old tower" that was destroyed or from the fact that remains of "antiquity" were found in this area. A testimony
of the seventeenth century refers to a very ancient church dedicated to the Savior, built by St. Paul, of a Claradea spring and of very ancient ruins of houses.
To the south, on the seabed of the Avalos shoal, at 16 m. deep and 400 m. a lead anchor block was recovered from the coast.
Bibliographic sources
Vita F., Historical record of the city of Augusta in the annals of the Royal Kingdom of Sicily, Venice, 1653, p. 3; Zuppello Santangelo F., Historical memories of the city of Augusta (late 24th century - early 239th century, unpublished ms., Municipal Library of Augusta, Blasco collection), pp. 1858, 1876; V. Amico, Topographical Dictionary of Sicily, sv Agosta, I, Palermo 4; Salomone S., Augusta illustrata or History of Augusta, 1899, p.440; Strazzulla V., History and archeology of Trotilon, Xifonia, and other sites near Augusta di Sicilia, XNUMX, p.XNUMX;
Mentesana M., Storicoarchaeological Dissertations, “Historical Newsletter of Augusta” 1972, p.8; Mentesana M., Greek anchors, “Magna Grecia” 1968b, 5, p.6; id., 1973, pp.
29-30; id., 1985, p.34; Doufour L., Augusta from imperial city to military city, Palermo 1989, pp.18-21, 52-53; Lanteri R., Settlements of late antiquity in the Megara territory, 1996b, p.27; Lanteri R., Augusta and its territory, elements for an archaeological map, 1997, pp. 69 and 71-72.
Area of archaeological interest, art. 142 letter m) Legislative Decree 42/04
(Source text of survey form n.26 Landscape Plan of the Province of Syracuse - Archaeological Heritage)
Archaeological Heritage Sheets Landscape Plan of Syracuse
Bibliography and further in-depth documents:
100) FIRST SICILY - AT THE ORIGINS OF SICILIAN SOCIETY - volume first edited by Sebastiano Tusa Palermo 1997.
Ignazio Caloggero: Sicily between History, Myths and Legends. Vol. 1: From Prehistory to the Phoenicians. First edition 2018 - Revised and updated edition of 2022
Ignazio Caloggero:
History of Sicily - 1.3.1: Neolithic and the birth of agriculture in Sicily
History of Sicily - 1.3.2: Religiosity and Burials in the Neolithic Period
History of Sicily - 1.3.3: Art in the Neolithic
History of Sicily - 1.3.4: Neolithic Sites List
History of Sicily - 1.4.1: The development of metallurgy
History of Sicily - 1.4.2: Social and cultural development
History of Sicily - 1.4.3: Burials during the Metal Age
History of Sicily - 1.4.4: Religious sentiments during the metal age
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Web, Region of Sicily
Photo: Card shown above
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