In 2005, the settlement of Valcorrente, between the centres of Belpasso and Paternò, was identified following a brief excavation campaign led by the Soprintendenza per i beni culturali e ambientali di Catania (Privitera et al., 2012). Between 2012 and 2015 the site was subject to regular excavations by the same Superintendence and by the University of Catania (Palio and Turco 2020). The village occupied a large area, located on a wide lava terrace and on the slope towards the plain of Catania, approx. 300 m asl. Four phases of life are attested: Final Neolithic; Final Copper Age; Early Bronze Age; Middle Bronze Age 1-2. During the different periods, significant changes have been observed in the settlement structure and in the community’s social organisation. At least in the sector we investigated, the most significant feature seems to be the appearance, from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age, of large curvilinear wall structures enclosing spaces related to the domestic activities of single (family?) groups. Numerous craft and domestic activities took place within the enclosures and in the surrounding open areas. These include spinning and weaving (indicated by the presence of whorls and loom weights) probably related to the most recent phase, the lithic industry, mainly based on the working of quartzite, ceramic production (attested by the discovery of deformed fragments of vases, probable firing waste). The preparation, cooking and consumption of food are indicated by the discovery of animal bones, especially sheep or goats, by basalt millstones and tools, and by numerous combustion structures, such as cooking plates and ovens. The latter are attested by accumulations of fragments of fired clay from the roof, and in some cases from the stones surrounding them. The discovery of numerous cut-out shards of circular, triangular, and quadrangular shapes (tokens) suggests the carrying out of some kind of accounting, perhaps linked to production activities.
L’insediamento dell’età del Bronzo di Valcorrente di Belpasso (CT)
Orazio Palio;
2023-01-01
Abstract
In 2005, the settlement of Valcorrente, between the centres of Belpasso and Paternò, was identified following a brief excavation campaign led by the Soprintendenza per i beni culturali e ambientali di Catania (Privitera et al., 2012). Between 2012 and 2015 the site was subject to regular excavations by the same Superintendence and by the University of Catania (Palio and Turco 2020). The village occupied a large area, located on a wide lava terrace and on the slope towards the plain of Catania, approx. 300 m asl. Four phases of life are attested: Final Neolithic; Final Copper Age; Early Bronze Age; Middle Bronze Age 1-2. During the different periods, significant changes have been observed in the settlement structure and in the community’s social organisation. At least in the sector we investigated, the most significant feature seems to be the appearance, from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age, of large curvilinear wall structures enclosing spaces related to the domestic activities of single (family?) groups. Numerous craft and domestic activities took place within the enclosures and in the surrounding open areas. These include spinning and weaving (indicated by the presence of whorls and loom weights) probably related to the most recent phase, the lithic industry, mainly based on the working of quartzite, ceramic production (attested by the discovery of deformed fragments of vases, probable firing waste). The preparation, cooking and consumption of food are indicated by the discovery of animal bones, especially sheep or goats, by basalt millstones and tools, and by numerous combustion structures, such as cooking plates and ovens. The latter are attested by accumulations of fragments of fired clay from the roof, and in some cases from the stones surrounding them. The discovery of numerous cut-out shards of circular, triangular, and quadrangular shapes (tokens) suggests the carrying out of some kind of accounting, perhaps linked to production activities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
