I Nebrodi nell’antichità: Città Culture Paesaggio

The Nebrodi mountains run along the central-northern part of Sicily. It is an area characterised by high ground that rises abruptly from the Tyrrhenian coast, separated by narrow valleys crossed by creeks and a few flat areas. Human presence there is very old due to the abundance of natural resources (water, wood, fertile land) and a favourable climate. In classical times, many cities prospered here, usually on well-defended hilltops; the archaic indigenous settlements encountered Greek culture from the 6th century BC, but they can be defined as totally Hellenized only after the middle of the 4th century BC. The phase of greatest prosperity was the Hellenistic age, especially following the Roman conquest of Sicily. Important centres were, among others, Tyndaris, Halaesa, Kale Akte and Herbita. Their wealth derived from the great availability of natural resources and from direct or indirect trade with the rest of the island, the Italian peninsula and other areas of the Mediterranean, especially those overlooking the sea. The birth of many of these settlements often dates back to prehistory and the existence of some of them has continued until today. The physical characteristics of this mountainous part of Sicily, along with its remoteness from the main cities of antiquity, affected the forms of human occupation and the growth of an autonomous culture. The Nebrodi have long remained archeologically unexplored: research and excavations were few and concentrated mainly on certain sites (particularly Tyndaris and Halaesa). Therefore, the history of these districts is still almost unknown. This volume presents the author’s many years of research, hoping to increase the knowledge of many aspects of this part of the island: the meeting between indigenous and Greek cultures, their coexistence, the types of settlement and the organization of cities, the trade and the local productions.

Table of Contents:
Introduzione 1. I Nebrodi nell’antichità, tra notizie storiche e dati archeologici 2. Greci, Punici e Siculi lungo la costa tirrenica siciliana in età arcaica. L’emporion di Kalè Akté. 3. Modelli urbanistici di età ellenistica nei centri di area Nebroidea 4. Modalità abitative di età ellenistica ad Apollonia di Sicilia (San Fratello, ME) 5. L’insediamento indigeno ellenizzato di Monte Scurzi (Militello Rosmarino, ME) 6. Un bollo su laterizi dal territorio di Caronia (ME) 7. Archeologia dei Nebrodi meridionali. Alcune proposte di identificazione di centri antichi e prospettive di ricerca 8. Le Tabulae Halaesinae. Un’immagine del paesaggio antico nebroideo English Summary: Nebrodi in Antiquity. Cities, Cultures, Landscape

About the Author :
Francesco Collura is an independent scholar who has conducted historical-archaeological research for more than 25 years. Geographically, his main area of interest has always been that of the Nebrodi Mountains in northern Sicily and in particular the territories of the ancient cities of Halaesa, Kale Akte, Apollonia and Halontion, which remained largely unexplored until recent decades.