Monti di Trapani

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III Archaeological excavation campaign at Pizzo Monaco (Trapani, Italy)

The MEditerranean MOuntainous LAndscapes Project, financed by European Commission FP-7 (#613265), is coordinated by José María Martin Civantos, associate professor and researcher at the Dept of Medieval History, Universidad de Granada (Spain). The project aims to apply an interdisciplinary perspective to study the evolution of Mediterranean mountainous cultural landscapes.

We announce the opportunity to participate in the III Archaeological Excavation Campaign, authorized by the Soprintendenza ai Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Trapani, at the site of Pizzo Monaci (Custonaci, Trapani).

The site is located at a calcareous summit (1607.61 ft). It represents a settlement from the Islamic period adapted to the terrain that today is a fortified structure, accessible from the northeast side. Inside, at least 50 cells have been identified, built with limestone and dry stone technique. As of today, we have excavated seven cells and the main entrance which has allowed to delineate the internal structure of the Pizzo Monaco archaeological site. It has been identified as a fortified structure, a possible collective granary from Islamic times (10th?-11th centuries) linked to a medieval settlement ( rahal/qarya) situated at the base of the mountain.

Previous campaigns not only allowed to determined the chronological and cultural frame of the Pizzo Monaco settlement, but also provided data for an integrated reading of the rural landscape in which the fortified granary is located. Thus, the University of Palermo took soil samples for a dafology analysis. Archaeological sediments taken from the different use levels of the different localised environments and soil samples, were floated in order to extract ancient vegetable remains (Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma-CSIC). In addition, the University of Granada developed an integral triditopography of the settlement and the hill in which it is located.

The excavation was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture in Spain, through the funding  “Ayudas arqueológicas en el exterior”, and the Max Van Berchem Foundation.

The MEMOLA partners that participate in the III excavation Campaign are:

  • Universidad de Granada (Spain);
  • Universidad de Sheffield (UK);
  • Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L. (Spain)
  • Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior  de Investigaciones Científicas–CSIC- Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma.
  • University of Palermo

We also count with the collaboration of Custonaci and Buseto Palizzolo city councils, that will provide logistical support.

This year the excavation will be organized in 2 turns of 15 days each:

 

  • July 4th-16th 2016
  • July 18th-30th 2016

Registration will be open until may 31st, 2016. It is necessary to send an email to:

Rocco Corselli (rocco.corselli@gmail.com) including the following:

  • Full updated Resume
  • Turn in which you would like to participate
  • Indicate any food allergies.

Campaign details:

  • Participants will cover their travel costs.
  • Bring a sleeping bag and appropriate work outfit (clothes, footwear and gloves).
  • Due to the characteristics of the site it is advised to bring sun protection: cream and a hat.
  • Meals will be provided by the organisation from Monday through Friday: breakfast, lunch (at the excavation site), and dinner.
  • Working tools will be provided to all participants.
  • Volunteers must bring proof of accidental injury insurance, valid during the time of their participation at the excavation. Also a valid ID card.
  • The peculiarities of the terrain require good physical condition ( the weather is extremely hot and the excavation conditions will be hard)
  • There will be parallel activities such as, working with archaeological ceramics and soil sample flotation
  • Work schedule will be from 6:30am to 2:30pm. The schedule could be modified depending on the weather conditions.
  • For all those who need it, a certificate of participation will be issued.

 

Visit the gardens of the Castle Mare Dolce (Palermo)

Last week, MEMOLA project visited the gardens of the Castle Mare Dolce (Brancaccio district, Palermo) with the Prof. Barbera and Dr. Lotta, from the University of Palermo. 

Community archaeology laboratory

MEMOLA project, in collaboration with the Association Alba Nuova, set a meeting of community archaeology laboratory to analyse some aspects of the traditional agricultural landscapes in Trapani. 

MEMOLA participated at the Conference "The persistence memory of living on historical landscapes"

On Friday the University of Granada presented "The persistence memory of water in the Mediterranean landscapes" by J.M. Martín Civantos, MEMOLA coordinator. On Saturday the University of Sheffield and Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio presented the poster "Hydraulic landscape of the territory of Trapani (MEMOLA Project)" by Rocco Corselli and Mª Teresa Bonet García.

Art School students in Trapani keep studying a water mill in Calatafimi

Art School students in ‪Trapani‬ keep studying a water mill in ‪Calatafimi‬ (Trapani). Yesterday they digitised their ‪drawings‬. Their work will be soon presented in a public ‪exhibition‬.

Etnographic study in the territory of Calatafimi (Trapani)

The etnographic study in the territory of Calatafimi (Trapani) continues, in order to reconstruct the history of some ancient irrigation systems

UNIPA participates in the International Plant Science Conference

The University of Palermo will present the poster "Archaeobotanical study of traditional agroecosystems based on sen-edx analysis of buried phytoliths" in the International Plant Science Conference "Not only food: sustainable development, agro-biodiversity conservation & human well being" (Pavía, Italy)

Biodiversity in Sicilian Agroecosystems: the old fruit trees

Cultural landscapes, with their agricultural ecosystems, are the place where the biodiversity of wild plants has been preserved and biodiversity of cultivates plants was generated. The current richness of fruit trees varieties is the result of a millennial process of introduction and domestication occurred in different historical periods and, therefore, closely linked to the people who come through Sicily.

One of the objective of the FP7 MEMOLA Project is understanding the processes of historical landscapes formation to draw strategies of preservation, diffusion and valorisation of the cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible) and of the environment.

For this reason, we are carrying out activities of dissemination in regards of cultivated plants biodiversity through workshops, training activities and this informative video.

MEMOLA participates at the Conference EAA Glasgow 2015

MEMOLA project organized the session "Mediterranean mountainous landscapes: historical agrosystems, identity and heritage" by J.M. Martín Civantos and A. Chavarría Arnau in the European Association of Archaeologist21st Annual Meeting in Glasgow (UK)

In this session participated the MEMOLA partners:

- The University of Granada, Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L. and the University of Sheffield  presented "Pizzo Monaco: the formation of a new social landscape in Sicily (Italy) " by J.M. Martín Civantos; M.T. Bonet García and R. Corselli. 

- The University of Granada presented "Seeding water up high in the mountains...Peasant productive logics in Sierra Nevada since the Islamic period (Granada-Almería, Spain) " by  J.M. Martín Civantos .

- CeRPHAAL presented "Legacy and reflections in the historical landscape of the Upper River Vjosa Valley (SE Albania) " by E. Serjani and A. Miti.

- The University of Padova presented "Archaeology, landscape and hydraulic technology in the Euganean Hills and the plains of the south-east of Padua" by J. Sarabia Bautista

Also Arqueoandalusi Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L  and the University of Granada presented "Dissemination the MEMOLA Project " by M.T. Bonet García.; L. Delgado Anés and J.M. Martín Civantos at the session "Communicating Archaeology: Communicating Landscapes"

 

MEMOLA organise a session in the EAA Glasgow 2015​

On Friday MEMOLA project organize the session "Mediterranean mountainous landscapes: historical agrosystems, identity and heritage" by J.M. Martín Civantos and A. Chavarría Arnau in the European Association of Archaeologist21st Annual Meeting.

In this session will participate the MEMOLA partners:

- The University of Granada, Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L. and the University of Sheffield  will present "Pizzo Monaco: the formation of a new social landscape in Sicily (Italy) " by J.M. Martín Civantos; M.T. Bonet García and R. Corselli. 

- The University of Granada will present "Seeding water up high in the mountains...Peasant productive logics in Sierra Nevada since the Islamic period (Granada-Almería, Spain) " by  J.M. Martín Civantos .

- CeRPHAAL will present "Legacy and reflections in the historical landscape of the Upper River Vjosa Valley (SE Albania) " by E. Serjani and A. Miti.

- The University of Padova will present "Archaeology, landscape and hydraulic technology in the Euganean Hills and the plains of the south-east of Padua" by J. Sarabia Bautista

 

 

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