Archaeology

You are here

II Archaeological Excavation Campaign at Pizzo Monaco (Custonaci, Trapani)

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.

In October and November of  2014, took place the first archaeological intervention , authorized by the  Soprintendenza ai Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Trapani, at the site of Pizzo Monaci (Custonaci, Trapani). During this activity we excavated four cells and the main entrance of a fortified structure, identified as a possible collective granary from Islamic times (10th?-11th centuries)

This campaigned 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 flotated 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 II excavation Campaign are:

  • Universidad de Granada (Spain);
  • Universidad de Sheffield (UK);
  • Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L.
  • 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 6th-19th 2015
  • July 20th-August 2nd 2015

There is a limit of 17 volunteers for each turn.

Registration will be open until may 31st, 2015. It is necessary to send an email to:

Rocco Corselli (r.corselli@sheffield.ac.uk) including the following:

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

Campaign details:

  • Participants need to cover for 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 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 really hot and the excavation conditions will be hard)
  • There will be Complementary activities such as, working with archaeological ceramics and soil sample flotation
  • Work schedule will be from 7:00am to 3pm . The schedule could be modified depending on the weather conditions.
  • For all those who need it, an assistance certification will be issued.

II Archaeological Excavation Campaign at Lanteira (Granada, Spain)

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.

In September and October, 2014, the archaeological excavation started, at Pago del Jarafi (Lanteira-Granada). After obtaining great results, documenting numerous settlement structures, silos for grain storage and a necropolis, we are returning to Lanteira for a second excavation campaign.

The MEMOLA project partners that participate in this intervention are:

• Universidad de Granada

• Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S-L

• Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-CSIC-Escuela Española de Arqueología en Roma

We also count with the collaboration of Lanteira and Alquife city councils, that will provide the necessary infrastructure to host the volunteers.

This year the excavation will be organized in 3 turns of 15 days each:

• August 15th to 30th

• September 1st- 15th

• September 16 th -30th

There is a limit of 20 volunteers for each turn.

It is necessary to register by sending an email to: info@arqueoandalusi.com including the following:

• Resume

• Turn in which you would like to participate

• Indicate any food allergies.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 1st, 2015

Campaign details:

• Housing will be at the Alquife municipal pavilion, very close to the excavation site.

• 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 hat.

• We will have access to the municipal swimming pool

• Meals will be provided 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.

• Complementary activities such as, working with archaeological ceramics and soil sample flotation will be held at the municipal school of Lanteira.

• Work schedule during the first two turns ( August and mid September) will be from 7am to 3pm. During the second half of September, the schedule is from 8 am to 5pm with lunch break. The schedule could be modified depending on the weather conditions.

• For all those who need it, an assistance certification will be issued.

Presentación del documental de la excavación en Lanteira

El pasado domingo 15 de marzo se presentaron en el Club de Montaña de Lanteira los resultados preliminares y el documental sobre la excavación que realizó el equipo de MEMOLA Sierra Nevada en el pago del Jarafí. Al acto acudieron la Delegada de Cultura en Granada, Ana Gámez, el alcalde de Lanteira, Jesús Villalba y 50 vecinos.

Durante los meses de septiembre y octubre de 2014 se excavaron un total de cinco sondeos con resultados variados. En dos de ellos se ha podido documentar el proceso de creación de una terraza de cultivo y la localización del suelo original sobre el que se creó dicha terraza. La excavación se centró en la parte baja de este pago del Jarafí donde se han estudiado varios silos de almacenamiento de grano y donde aparecieron los restos de una necrópolis islámica además de varias estructuras de vivienda. Todo el proceso de excavación, los resultados obtenidos y las colaboraciones con que contamos durante estos meses de trabajo han quedado recogidos en el video documental Jarafí 2014.

 

Presentazione del documentario dello scavo archeologico (Custonaci)

È stato presentato lo scorso 7 marzo, a Castellammare del Golfo (Trapani), il video documentario dello scavo archeologico realizzato nel granaio comunitario islamico di Pizzo Monaco (Custonaci) in provincia di Trapani. Alla presentazione erano presenti Nicola Coppola, Sindaco di Castellammare del Golfo, Vito Sciortino, Sindaco di Calatafimi Segesta, Giuseppe Bica, Sindaco di Custonaci, Rossella Giglio, Dirigente della Sezione Archeologica della Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. di Trapani.

Tra ottobre e novembre del 2014 sono stati scavati quattro ambienti unicellulari di un sito fortificato posto su una cuspide di calcarenite, a circa 490 metri sul livello del mare. La struttura è parzialmente conservata in alzato, di dimensioni considerevoli (2.500 mq), e racchiude all’interno un totale di circa 55 celle in stato di crollo. Ai piedi del rilievo, nei pressi di una sorgente, insiste un villaggio medievale (rahal/qarya) indagato in precedenti ricognizioni di superficie. Sulla base dei risultati preliminari e dell’interpretazione di fonti scritte sulla Sicilia islamica, nonchè il confronto con strutture similari in area mediterranea, soprattutto in Tunisia, Marocco, o nella Spagna sud-orientale, crediamo che si possa trattare di un’opera comunitaria degli abitanti del vicino villaggio, ma anche di altri insediamenti limitrofi, creata per lo stoccaggio di derrate alimentari, ovvero granaglie.

È probabile quindi l’esistenza di un’area irrigata e coltivata, la cui scomparsa va verosimilmente ricondotta alla conquista normanna e alla relativa espulsione della popolazione musulmana in epoca sveva. L’attività di scavo e la storia del sito vengono raccontati nel video che vi mostriamo.

Excavación arqueológica en Lanteira (Granada)

El día 8 de septiembre de 2014 la Universidad de Granada y la empresa Arqueoandalusí Arqueología y Patrimonio S.L., iniciaron la primera excavación del proyecto europeo MEMOLA en Sierra Nevada, concretamente en el municipio de Lanteira. 

El proyecto MEMOLA está coordinado por el Dr. José María Martín Civantos del Dpto. Historia Medieval y CCTTHH de la Universidad de Granada y cuenta con la participación de diez socios correspondientes a cinco países (Albania, España, Italia, Inglaterra e Irlanda) entre los que se encuentran importantes universidades europeas y empresas especializadas. El proyecto se desarrolla en cuatro áreas de estudio (Sierra Nevada, Colli Euganei, Monti di Trapani y Vjosa Valley) para analizar de manera interdisciplinar la configuración cultural de los paisajes mediterráneos. 

Se han realizado varios sondeos en las terrazas de cultivo en la zona conocida como el Jarafí, junto al castillo del Barrio, que han permitido localizar cuatro silos, una veintena de tumbas y restos de habitación cuya cronología se encuentra entre los siglos VIII y XI d.C. 

Los trabajos de excavación han podido documentar el proceso de formación de una terraza de cultivo. Las muestras recogidas en esta terraza junto con las que sean tomadas en los silos serán analizados por el laboratorio de Arqueobotánica del CSIC, socio del proyecto MEMOLA. 

Con respecto a las tumbas, los individuos están enterrados según el rito islámico: colocados en posición decúbito lateral derecho, con la peculiaridad de que estas están excavadas sobre roca. 

Durante este mes han acudido como voluntarios estudiantes del Grado de Historia, del Grado de Arqueología y del Máster de Arqueología de la Universidad de Granada. Está prevista la programación de visitas gratuitas guiadas para conocer el desarrollo de los trabajos arqueológicos.

Pages