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The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the 2012th-2015th archaeological excavations at the Early Bronze Age site of Calicantone, south-eastern Sicily, as it adds new data to our knowledge about the funerary... more
The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the 2012th-2015th archaeological excavations at the Early Bronze Age site of Calicantone, south-eastern Sicily, as it adds new data to our knowledge about the funerary traditions of the Castelluccio culture (ca. 2200-1400 BC). The research conducted on the rock-cut chamber tombs necropolis unveiled an unprecedented plurality of grave forms and types of external decoration within single cemetery, as well as the presence of rock-cut implements facilitating access to diverse tombs. In close vicinity to the upper part of that necropolis a hut of considerable size (ca.5x10 m) and with a bi-apsidal plan is located, similar to the few other huts known from EBA Sicily (e.g. the building from the eponymous Castelluccio site).
The vast necropolis, located in Cava Ispica gorge, ca. 14 km from Sicily’s south-eastern coast, spreads over rocky terraces and inaccessible steep slopes surrounding a hilltop settlement towering on the western edge of the gorge. It consists of ninety-one chamber tombs clustered in several groups. Each group presents different level of accessibility and external elaboration of tombs’ façades, while the presence of small artificial cavities (tombe incoative, probably of votive purpose) recurs in several sectors of the necropolis. The presence of votive cavities implies that each bigger cluster stated an independent part of the necropolis, devoted to a chosen group/clan or used over a different period of time, whereas the location of particular tombs within the groups could hold the key to a social lecture of the funerary landscape. The largest group of tombs states the necropolis’ monumental façade. Broad repertoire of decorative motives, which include multiple rock-cut frames, pillared courtyards and false-pillared façades accentuates those tombs’ entrances.
A repeatable co-existence of chosen elements within the multileveled cemetery of Calicantone suggests a well organized funerary area with internal structure carefully planned and a system of tombs differentiation articulated by their location and set of external architectonic features.
The soundings in the nearby of the necropolis unveiled traces of a hut, in use in the final stage of the Sicilian EBA (ca. 1600-1450 BC) and perhaps also in the transitory period to the MBA Thapsos culture (ca. 1400-1250 BC) when it was destroyed in an abrupt event such as an earthquake or a human attack. Until now it is the only known Sicilian building placed on the border of a funerary area and it yielded a large amount of finds, including both cult and luxury objects and with more mundane ones, such as stone tools and weaving implements. A large amount of pottery has been found (round 80 vases) including small and middle sized vases, and many large clay containers (pithois, dolia). The presence of rock-cut channels and a large rectangular clay basin points to a special or specialized function of the space.
Surprisingly the debris also covered at least 8 individuals (both male and female, adults and young). While some of them were clearly killed by the event that destroyed the hut, one was apparently not a victim of the sudden destruction: the suggestion must be made that this body was placed in the hut before the violent end of the building and was probably being prepared for burial.
Taking into consideration its location and content, the proposed interpretation of the hut of Calicantone is that of a community house used also for funerary activities, including both rituals and the treatment of the body.
The vast necropolis, located in Cava Ispica gorge, ca. 14 km from Sicily’s south-eastern coast, spreads over rocky terraces and inaccessible steep slopes surrounding a hilltop settlement towering on the western edge of the gorge. It consists of ninety-one chamber tombs clustered in several groups. Each group presents different level of accessibility and external elaboration of tombs’ façades, while the presence of small artificial cavities (tombe incoative, probably of votive purpose) recurs in several sectors of the necropolis. The presence of votive cavities implies that each bigger cluster stated an independent part of the necropolis, devoted to a chosen group/clan or used over a different period of time, whereas the location of particular tombs within the groups could hold the key to a social lecture of the funerary landscape. The largest group of tombs states the necropolis’ monumental façade. Broad repertoire of decorative motives, which include multiple rock-cut frames, pillared courtyards and false-pillared façades accentuates those tombs’ entrances.
A repeatable co-existence of chosen elements within the multileveled cemetery of Calicantone suggests a well organized funerary area with internal structure carefully planned and a system of tombs differentiation articulated by their location and set of external architectonic features.
The soundings in the nearby of the necropolis unveiled traces of a hut, in use in the final stage of the Sicilian EBA (ca. 1600-1450 BC) and perhaps also in the transitory period to the MBA Thapsos culture (ca. 1400-1250 BC) when it was destroyed in an abrupt event such as an earthquake or a human attack. Until now it is the only known Sicilian building placed on the border of a funerary area and it yielded a large amount of finds, including both cult and luxury objects and with more mundane ones, such as stone tools and weaving implements. A large amount of pottery has been found (round 80 vases) including small and middle sized vases, and many large clay containers (pithois, dolia). The presence of rock-cut channels and a large rectangular clay basin points to a special or specialized function of the space.
Surprisingly the debris also covered at least 8 individuals (both male and female, adults and young). While some of them were clearly killed by the event that destroyed the hut, one was apparently not a victim of the sudden destruction: the suggestion must be made that this body was placed in the hut before the violent end of the building and was probably being prepared for burial.
Taking into consideration its location and content, the proposed interpretation of the hut of Calicantone is that of a community house used also for funerary activities, including both rituals and the treatment of the body.
Location: National University of Ireland, Galway
Organization: Edward Herring (NUI Galway), Eóin O'Donoghue (NUI Galway)
Conference End Date: Apr 18, 2016
Conference Start Date: Apr 16, 2016
Research Interests:
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Call for Contribution: "Wellbeing and Cultural Heritage", CHAIN Conference, 11-12 February, University of Catania, PhD Science of Cultural Heritage and Production.
For more info download the PDF or visit www.chain-conference.com.
For more info download the PDF or visit www.chain-conference.com.
Research Interests: Cultural Studies, Media and Cultural Studies, Cultural Heritage, Cultural Economics, Cultural Communication, and 14 moreMemory Studies, Cultural Memory, Cultural Studies (Communication), Cultural Heritage Management, Identity construction and cultural production, Wellbeing, Arts and Music for Health and Wellbeing, Call for Papers, media and communication for museums and Cultural Heritage agencies, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, Call for Papers, Cultural Studies, Economics of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Wellbeing, and Political Economy and Cultural Studies Approach in Media and Communication
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Call for Paper per CHAIN (Cultural Heritage Academic Interdisciplinary Network) 2020: 11-12 Febbraio, Università di Catania, Dottorato in Science per il patrimonio e la produzione culturale. Per maggiori info scaricate il PDF o visitate... more
Call for Paper per CHAIN (Cultural Heritage Academic Interdisciplinary Network) 2020: 11-12 Febbraio, Università di Catania, Dottorato in Science per il patrimonio e la produzione culturale.
Per maggiori info scaricate il PDF o visitate il sito www.chain-conference.com
Per maggiori info scaricate il PDF o visitate il sito www.chain-conference.com
Publication Date: 2020
Research Interests: Beni Culturali, Call for Papers, Memoria, Economia della cultura, Patrimonio culturale, and 12 moreHeritage Health Safety Accessibility Patrimonio Culturale Salute Sicurezza Fruibilità, Call for Papers and Research and Publication, Educazione Al Patrimonio Culturale, Patrimonio Culturale E Identità, Comunicazione Culturale, Convegno, Benessere sociale, Benessere, Economia e gestioni dei beni culturali e dello spettacolo, Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Culturale, Antropologia del patrimonio culturale, and welfare culturale
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