Cave of the Saracens or Omo Morto
The cave is located in the overhang of the Omo Morto so called because according to the tradition remembered by Tranchina a Swiss gendarme would have thrown into the sea. Its marine origin in the tuffs of the Falconiera crater is not clear. The cave is now difficult to access, there were two "ways" that were not completely natural: one consisted of a passage partially dug into the cliff, from north to south, now interrupted by landslides, the second "way" is from the sea, along the wall, accessible by the long series of steps dug on purpose, already mentioned by Pigonati. The cave has a large gallery which is followed by a large room about forty meters long, about ten wide, with an average height of 5 m, the greater ones are due to collapses of rock masses. The soil is sandy, the result of wind erosion. We have news, worthy of faith, of many Roman amphorae found in the cave recovered on behalf of Ercole Gargano, the builder of the Hotel Grotta Azzurra. In 2004 Vito Ailara, former Mayor of the island, recovered several clay fragments dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, typologically identical to the nearby village of the same name and Roman material. F ° 249 IV NE, Ustica Island; UTM: UC43468660, Altitude m. 30, Length 40 m.
Text source: Giovanni Mannino: Guide to the Prehistory of Palermo - List of prehistoric sites in the province of Palermo - Sicilian Institute for Political and Economic Studies)
PRESS: Well cataloged but partially geolocated. We invite you to provide your contribution by providing us with useful information that will allow us to geolocate the listed asset. See also "Cultural Heritage to be Geolocated"
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 - 1.4.1: 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
Photos:
Photos:
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero Web
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