STUDI PRELIMINARI SULLA COSIDDETTA STRUTTURA A DI TORRICELLA (RAMACCA, SICILIA)

Lying to the west of the modern town of Ramacca (Sicily), the “Montagna” is the first significant elevation bordering to the west the Plain of Catania, with a dominant position on the surrounding territory. The area features several traces of past occupation, including the prehistoric settlement of Torricella (37°23’10’’ N, 14°39’10’’ E), which is the subject of the present paper. Here, researches carried out in 1970-71, brought to light one of the few uninterrupted sequences spanning the Copper and the Early Bronze Age currently known for Sicily, along with a series of rock-cut tombs pockmarking the ridges around the site. In particular, as far as the Early Bronze Age is concerned, three main levels of occupation were uncovered: they are characterized by structures with various shapes, dimensions and possibly functional destinations, and by ceramics all falling into the cultural horizon of Castelluccio. Several preliminary works on the abundant archaeological material found at the site were carried out through time under the supervision of Enrico Procelli, who had excavated at Torricella and understood its importance. This paper being by presenting a general overview of the site and a critical review of its stratigraphic sequence and then focuses on the main structure found in the last level of occupation (structure A), presenting its previously unpublished archaeological assemblage and discussing its functional destination. It also provides insights on the critical issue of the function of the various kinds of structures, with the aid of both archaeological data from other contexts and ethnographic examples.