Monte Chibbò 1
Description

Monte Chibbò 1

Hellenized indigenous center with traces of attendance from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXnd century. to. C. - Hellenized indigenous necropolis. (Text source: Guidelines of the regional landscape plan)

 
On Mount Chibbò, whose peak is called Pizzo del Re (m. 951), a fortified indigenous center was born in the Greek age. The relief, which develops mainly along the northern and southern slopes, has a small and narrow plateau on the top, oriented in the EW direction, while a high rocky overhang that overlooks the Chibbò district, delimits it on the W side. On the southern slope the slope it is rather decisive at the base of which the Vallone Fondo is located. This mountain is easily accessible from the N and S, while the slope is a natural defense to the West. The only one
access along this side is a steep thought, in So del Pizzo del Re, artificially adapted. Another entrance from the W is located along the Chibbò wire and allows access to the plateau located on the northern slopes of the mountain, already outside the area of ​​the ancient inhabited area: this road climbs from the Chibbò district and was to represent the most important connection, also if not the shortest, between the center and the neighboring one of Castellazzo di Marianopoli. The existence of an inhabited center on Monte Chibbò was reported by D. Adamesteanu in a short note, but no research has been undertaken so far in this locality. The surveys carried out on the site made it possible to identify some topographical elements of the ancient center: a) localization of the limits of the inhabited altar, b) fortifications; c) SO necropolis; d) small N burial area; e) two areas of fragments near the built-up area. Fortifications: the defense wall closed only the upper part of the town: the top of the relief, delimited by the W escarpment and by walls on the remaining sides, thus constituted a small acropolis, from which it was possible to dominate the whole town and streets access. The traits of 
Currently visible walls reveal the construction technique used to adapt to the sloping ground, which consists in creating a drywall for the external face and upstream an internal filling of stones and earth. The technique does not differ much from that used in the other fortified centers of the area. In the absence of excavations it is difficult to provide a reliable dating for the fortification: the example of Terravecchia, where the walls have been attributed to the sixth century. BC, certainly offers a useful reference, but only indicative. Settlement: it extended on the northern and southern slopes. Except in the small flat area on the southern summit of the mountain, the inhabited area had a terraced layout, common to most of the centers of internal Sicily. The northern side must have been almost entirely occupied by buildings: in fact,
numerous fragments of solenes and kalypteres and of large containers emerge from the ground up to the base of the slope. The presence of some tombs along the western ridge, even in the slope area, suggests that a narrow western band of the N side was left free for burials. The type of dwellings must have been very simple, the remains of walls and some structures near the top, partially excavated by illegal immigrants, document double-faced walls, with stones sometimes regularized in the face. A different aspect must have offered the inhabited area on the southern slope, due to the greater inclination of the land: in the south-western part, along the ridge, the inhabited area probably continued up to the passage towards the valley. AS and SE the accentuated slope favors the sliding downwards of clay materials and stones used for construction. Where the terrain is less steep, there are traces of structures with dry stone walls of the type already found on the northern slope, in particular close to the western escarpment, where, again by illegal immigrants, some walls, presumably of houses, have been brought to light. , which delimit quadrangular rooms. This side is characterized by numerous cuts in the limestone with the houses partially embedded in the rock. The cover was with sloping roofs, as documented by the fragments of solenes and kalypteres. Alongside quadrangular rooms, there are examples of rooms with a different plan. Overall, the southern sector of the town must have had an original and varied aspect. Necropolis: three chamber tombs carved into the rock were then brought to light, which are part of a single rock complex, located along the rocky slope SE of the relief probably just outside the inhabited area. This presence remains isolated at the moment, lacking traces of other tombs in the vicinity. The only accessible is the southern tomb thanks to a clandestine excavation that has revealed its opening. The internal environment is quadrangular with a rectangular opening and has a recess for the laying of the closing plate, consisting of a limestone block, which has remained intact outside the tomb, with recess on the edge. The third tomb in the N, has the vault almost entirely collapsed, but it must have been very close to the first. Neither inside the tombs nor outside have any significant fragments been found. Their dating should not go beyond the end of the sixth century. B.C  
 
Greek age: VI - V century. B.C
 

Text source: Archaeological report 380KV double three-phase power line - Chiaramonte Gulfi - Ciminna (https://va.minambiente.it/File/Documento/62560)

 other documents: https://va.minambiente.it/it-IT/Oggetti/Documentazione/1016/1303?pagina=10

 
 

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"

In-depth document: Himera Greek City, guide to the history and monuments of Stefano Vassallo, Superintendence of Cultural and Environmental Heritage, Archaeological Heritage Service_ Palermo 2005: Download file: Himera_Greek_City_2005

Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero

Photos:  

Information contributions: Archaeological report 380KV double three-phase power line - Chiaramonte Gulfi - Ciminna / Ignazio Caloggero / Web

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