Terravecchia of Cuti
Settlement - Fortifications - Necropolis
Fortifications: the excavation revealed on the top of the mountain the presence of a series of fortification walls that surround the two upper hills and the intermediate area; three different complexes have been distinguished on the basis of chronology and topographical arrangement: the oldest dates back to the first half of the sixth century. BC, the second surrounds the eastern hill (second half of the XNUMXth century BC); in a third moment (end of the XNUMXth century BC) a last section was built with the aim of connecting and defending the area between the two hills. Inhabited: the excavation of a few houses (seven in all) in the upper area of the inhabited area has made it possible to document that the buildings always have a different orientation, to adapt to the trend of the relief. They have a rectangular plan and a simple construction method: fragments of solenes with opaion testify to the presence of rooms illuminated through openings on the roofs. Numerous are the sporadic materials recovered in the inhabited area, including metal elements of extreme importance, such as decorated bronze sheets and bronze in the shape of the so-called astragalus bed. The series of coins recovered is significant, with a preponderance of those from Agrigento, confirming that the town fully gravitated in the fifth century. BC within the sphere of influence of the Rhodium-Cretan colony. Unlike other settlements in central-southern Sicily, Terravecchia still lacks traces of frequentation in the prehistoric age in the inhabited area, whose life dates back to the sixth century. BC At the end of the sixth century BC the inhabited area must have already had a significant development, the fortifications of the two upper hills having been completed by now, and since the SO necropolis has been in operation for some time. The end of the XNUMXth century to. C. marks a crucial moment for the settlement: the most recent pottery found both in the inhabited area and in the sacred extra-urban area and in the necropolis dates back to these years or perhaps to the beginning of the XNUMXth century; certainly in these years the town was abandoned and probably the main cause goes
sought after in the collapse of Agrigento and in the consequent process of disintegration of the political and economic control system existing in its territory. Necropolis: there are several necropolar nuclei: necropolis E occupies a small sandy hill excavated in 1959. The excavated tombs are
about thirty, have a prevalent N / S orientation and various typologies: twelve with capuchin, twelve with simple uncovered pit, four with simple pit with covering of limestone slabs or tiles placed on a level, two with pit of monumental dimensions: a rectangular clay sarcophagus, a deposition in pithos, an cremation in a bronze basin. Among the material of the trousseaus only 30% is made up of local vases, the rest is of Attic import or colonial production. The SE necropolis is of limited extension and is located on a small plateau at Se del Cozzo Terravecchia. The area devastated by illegal immigrants was the subject of a short excavation campaign in 1978. Eight burials with different orientation and typology were identified, including two earthly depositions, a clay sarcophagus, a chest made up of solenes, a capuchin tomb. Of the eight excavated tombs, six were without equipment, in one there was a bronze mirror handle and in another three small lekythoi dating back to around the end of the XNUMXth century. BC A third necropolis is located in the Terravecchia district, owned by Cerami.
Greek Age (Archaic, Colonial, Hellenistic)
Text source: Archaeological report 380KV double three-phase power line - Chiaramonte Gulfi - Ciminna (https://va.minambiente.it/File/Documento/62560)
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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