Revista Arkeogazte Aldizkaria Nº7, pp. 175-192, año 2017 Recepción: 22-VI-2017; Revisión: 26-X-2017; Aceptación: 06-XI-2017 ISSN: 2174-856X

LONGTERM HUMAN OCCUPATION OF A RURAL LANDSCAPE IN CENTRAL WESTERN CASTRO/GIARDINELLO VALLEY AND MT BARRAÙ: HARVESTING MEMOIRES PROJECT CASE STUDY Asentamientos humanos de larga duración en áreas rurales en el centro-oeste de Sicilia (Valle de Castro/Giardinello y Monte Barraù): caso de estudio Harves ng Memoires

Siziliako erta-mendebaldeko (Castro/Giardinello Harana eta Barraù Mendia) nekazal-eremu baten giza okupazioa denboran zehar: Harves ng Memories ikerketa kasua

Angelo Castrorao Barba (*) Antonio Rotolo (**) Giuseppe Bazan (***) Pasquale Marino (****) Stefano Vassallo (*****)

Abstract: The “Harves ng Memories” project focuses on the study of long-term landscape transforma ons as a diachronic result of the interac on between socio-economic human pa erns and environmental and ecological trends in a rural area of Central-Western Sicily. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the archaeological survey carried out in Castro/Giardinello Valley and the Mt. Barraù area (, ). The fi eldwork confi rmed the long occupa on of this area characterized by archaeological evidences da ng to the Middle Copper Age/Eneolithic, Bronze Age, Classical period, Middle Ages and Late Modern age. The detec on of the high intensity of human presence in this area across the me represents a frui ul point of start for future inves ga ons aimed to correlate historical land use, ecological factors and se lement pa erns. Keywords: Survey, Landscape archaeology, Rural se lements, Sicily.

* Inter-Departmental Research Centre on Technology-Environment Interac on, CIRITA, University of Palermo. angelo.castrorao- [email protected] ** ZIF-Marie Curie Fellow at Zukun skolleg and History and Sociology Department, University of Konstanz. anto.rotolo@uni- konstanz.de *** Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceu cal Science and Technology, University of Palermo. giuseppe.bazan@ unipa.it. **** Bona Furtuna LLC. [email protected] ***** Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA of Palermo. stefano.vassallo @regione.sicilia.it

175 176 A. Castrorao Barba et al.

Resumen: El proyecto “Harves ng Memories” se centra en estudiar las transformaciones del paisaje en el área rural del centro-oeste de Sicilia como resultado diacrónico de las interacciones entre los diferentes patrones socio-económicos humanos y las tendencias ambientales y ecológicas a largo plazo. El obje vo principal de éste ar culo es presentar los resultados obtenidos del estudio arqueológico llevado a cabo en el Valle de Castro/Giardinello y el área del Monte Barraù (Corleone, Palermo). El trabajo de campo confi rma una larga ocupación de éste área, caracterizado por evidencias arqueo- lógicas que datan desde la Edad del Cobre/Eneolí co, Edad del Bronce, Periodo Clásico, Edad Media hasta la Edad Moderna. La alta intensidad de ocupación humana detectada en éste área a lo largo del empo nos permite establecer un fruc fero punto de inicio para futuras inves gaciones cuyo obje vo sea aunar la historia del uso de la erra, los factores ecológicos y los patrones de asenta- miento. Palabras clave: Estudio, arqueología del paisaje, asentamientos rurales, Sicilia.

Laburpena: “Harves ng Memories” proiektuaren helburu nagusia Sizilizako erta-mendebaldeko nekazal-ere- muko paisaiak denboran zehar jasan dituen eraldaketak aztertzea da. Horiek, gizakien jokabide sozio-ekonomikoen, ingurugiroaren zein faktore ekologikoen arteko interakzioaren emaitza diakro- niko izanik. Ar kulu honen xedea Castro/Giardinello Haranean eta Barraù Mendian egindako lan arkeologikoen emaitzak aurkeztea da. Landa lanak zonalde honen okupazioa denbora luzean zehar eman zela berresten du, Kobre Aroko/Eneolitoko, Brontze Aroko, Aro Klasikoko, Erdi Aroko zein Aro Berriko aztarna arkeologikoak aurkitu direlarik. Eremu honetan giza presentziak denboran zehar intentsitate altua izan duela frogatu ahal izateak, landa-eremuen erabilera historikoa, faktore eko- logikoak zein kokatze ereduak korrelazioan jarriko dituzten etorkizuneko ikerlanentzako abiapuntu emankor suertatzen da. Hitz-gakoak: Ikerketa, paisaiaren arkeologia, landa-eremuko egonlekuak, Sizilia.

1. Introduc on in Central-Western Sicily (CASTRORAO BARBA et al., 2016a, 2016b). It uses an interdisciplinary The “Harves ng Memories” project1 aims to approach, integra ng diff erent sources to analyze long-term human-landscape dynamics reconstruct the ecological environment, se lement pa ern and land use history of a specifi c rural geographic area. 1 The project is en rely funded by Bona Furtuna LLC a sustainable organic farm producing premium- quality products (mainly 100% organic olive oil). The This integra on of a variety of sources is archaeological fi eldwork has been directed by the aimed at a comprehensive and holis c narra ve Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA., Unità Opera va 5 (Dr. Stefano biography of the landscape through the diachronic Vassallo), while the study of diachronic landscape changes has been conducted by the Centre for Research on dynamics of interac on between human socie es Technology-Environment Interac on – CIRITA, University and ecological systems (VOLPE AND GOFFREDO, of Palermo, and supervised by Prof. Giuseppe Bazan 2014; CAMBI 2015). (University of Palermo).

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In this paper we will focus on repor ng on in this region (CAMBRIA, BAZAN AND MARINO, the fi eldwork survey ac vi es conducted in the 2015). western slopes of Monte Barraù and the Castro Valley (C-W Sicily). The study area is quite diversifi ed from a bioclima c point of view as well, presen ng diff erent gradients from the Lower 2. The case study area: landscape and history Mesomediterranean (Upper dry) and the Lower Supramediterranean (Lower subhumid) (BAZAN The research area corresponds to the Bona et al., 2015). Furtuna LLC estate (350 hectares), which is located 8 km from Corleone in the inland area The landscape has been shaped by frequent near Palermo, next to the SS188dir/c road in the changes in geological strata, with the alterna on direc on of Campofi orito (Figure 1). of clayey or marly hills and calcareous reliefs of the Mesozoic period (Sicana facies). This has resulted in a sequence of hills with gentle slopes, irregularly interrupted by isolated mountains with steep, if not abrupt, slopes, which reach the considerable height of 1420 m. a.s.l. (Monte Barraù) (DI STEFANO et al., 2013). A few remains of a holm oak wood, which once probably covered the area, are located on the southern slopes of Monte Barraù (Figure. 2).

Indeed, a La n parchment (5 October 1428)2 from the Tabularium of the monastery of Santa Maria del Bosco di Calatamauro (owner of the area since at least since the end of the fourteenth Figure 1. Map and loca on of the case study area, central- century) men ons a forest covering Mount western Sicily (Corleone, Palermo). Barraù3.

The whole project area measures 2 Tabulario of the monastery of Santa Maria del Bosco di approximately 300 hectares and includes the Calatamauro 615, 1428, October 5, ind. VII, Corleone (Copy from the original drawn up by the notary Michele de Murria, areas of Contrada Castro, Contrada Giardinello Judge: the notary Giacomo de Pi acholis): «Gnaff eo de and Contrada Valle Fredda, which goes up the Gnaff eo di Salem vende a frate Giovanni de lu Portu, abbate del slopes of Monte Barraù (or Monte Barracù), a monastero di S. Maria del Bosco, una tenuta di terre boscose, in cui è collocata una pietra chiamata la petra di la pipula, sita Special Conserva on Zone (ZCS) of the Mon in contrada Barrau nel territorio di Corleone, per il prezzo di 20 Sicani district. onze» (ARCADIPANE, BALLETTA AND MICELI, 1991: 187). 3 In the ancient records of the monastery of Santa Maria del Bosco, A high level of biodiversity is indicated by the Olivetan monk Olimpo da Giuliana wrote: «Nel anno 1383 il de o priore [Fra Giovanni di Puglia] comprò dal giudice Antonio di the presence of 502 taxa of vascular fl ora, 38 of Calandrino consen ente e ra fi cante madonna Pascua sua con- which are endemic to Sicily. In par cular, some sorte la mità d’un territorio o’ fego de o Barraù per prezzo di onze rare plants are reported, such as Nepeta apulei, quarantaqua ro contan in questo modo: onze quaranta in tan Scorpiurus vermiculatus, Linaria chalepensis and fi orini d’oro a raggione di diece tarì l’uno e per l’onse qua ro per fi nito pagamento di de o territorio cene diede cinque vacche con Cephalaria syriaca, an uncommon archaeophyte cinque vetelle femmine sequaci» (MARCHESE, 1995: 31).

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Figure 2. Holm oak forest and grassland in the western slopes of Mt. Barraù.

Figure 3. The agricultural landscape of the Castro/Giardinello valley.

The ecological characteris cs of Contrada such as the renowned site of Montagna Vecchia Castro and Contrada Giardinello (Figure 3)— (D’ANGELO, SPATAFORA, 1995), together with par cularly rich in freshwater springs—off er 30 se lements spanning from Prehistory to the op mal condi ons for agricultural exploita on, Medieval period (SPATAFORA. 1997). Within this sylvo-pastoral ac vi es and human se lement. huge district, our area was almost pris ne from an archaeological point of view, and the only known archaeological site was a small, allegedly 3. Historical and archaeological overview prehistoric se lement located on the southern slopes of Rocche di Castro. The case study in the Corleone area of central- western Sicily has a long tradi on of se lements,

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The Alto Belice Corleonese district probably origin, with a possible deriva on from a former acted as a hinge between the southern and Greek toponym: ra’s e ǧabal bū ‘r-raḫū, la nised northern coasts of Sicily. In Roman mes, in fact, into Burrachu (CARACAUSI, 1994). In the part of this area was traversed by a road axis linking the Jarida that describes the boundaries of Divisa Palermo to through the hypothe cal Ialcii (District of Jato), together with the toponym Via Aurelia of the Republican period (milestone Burrachu, it is possible to iden fy several other of the console C. Aurelius Co a, 252–248 BC, micro-toponyms of the area. The reference to found in Contrada Zuccarone) (DI VITA, 1963; Monte Barraù is related to a dispute about the PRAG, 2006), coinciding with the route of the localiza on of qalCat at ǧālṣú (Cala alci) which, cursus publicus of the I nerarium Antoninii at according to Maurici, may be iden fi ed with the height of the Roman imperial age. In the Cangialoso (MAURICI, 1987: 67, 1992: 267, 1998: Medieval period, there was likely a con nua on 40-41, 71). of the communica on lines along that main route, perhaps with the addi on of various secondary roads, along which the area of study is located 4. New data from the archaeological survey (VERBRUGGHE, 1976; BELVEDERE, 1987; UGGERI, 1997-1998: 305-306 and 2001: 321-322; BURGIO, The “Harves ng Memories” project fi eld 2015). surveys (Figure 4), carried out within the boundaries of the Bona Furtuna, LLC estate, led to In fact, it is not a coincidence that the fi rst the iden fi ca on of 16 sites of human occupa on historical men on of the area dates to the Middle da ng from the Protohistoric to the Medieval to Ages: more precisely, the toponym Barraù or the Modern period. In par cular, we iden fi ed Barracù is cited in the Jarida4 of da ng and delimited 12 areas of po ery concentra on to AD 11825. This toponym shows a clear Arabic

4 The Jarida is the Sicilian medieval correspondent of a contemporary land register. The Jarida of Monreale is wri en in La n and Arabic and describes the boundaries (divisae) of the lands of Jato, Corleone, Ba ellaro and Calatrasi, which were donated by the Norman King William II to the Abbey of Santa Maria Nuova of Monreale (JOHNS 2002). 5 «Divisa terrarum Ialcii: principium divise occidentalis est a capite Herneu, exit usque ad vineam et volvitur per Ialcium versus septentrionem cum pede CalatIalci; exit supra vineam Notarii Leonis et exit per pedem mon s pedem mon s usque supra Dichichi, vadit ad favariam Canne usque ad speluncam Buhafu, exit ad viam que ducit ad Raiam. Exit ad fontem Mazariencium, pervenit ad portam Sanc Petri, volvitur cum monte Errah et exit usque ad Hatara Biben s Lac, quod est supra canale Sabuci, exit directe ascendendo in capud Burrachu, girat montem Burrachu, et eff usio aque occidentalis per net ad istam divisam, orientalis ad Rayam, girat montem qui est supra Bulmarru, descendit ad vadum quod est supra Castane et ascendit usque ad portam que discoperit supra casale Metreuy, et clauditur divisa» (Biblioteca Centrale della Regione Siciliana, Tabulario di S. Maria la Nuova di Monreale, nr. 31, published in CUSA, 1868- 1882, I, 179- Figure 4. General map with the iden fi ed sites. 244, 730-731, n. 137 (234, r 9).

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(Sites: from 1 to 12, and 16) and 4 areas with to the Arab-Norman period (10th-12th century architectural evidence (Sites: 10, 13, 14 and 15). AD).

On a plateau lying downhill in respect to the In the north-western part of the study area, south-eastern slopes of Rocche di Castro, we 5 areas with po ery concentra ons were iden fi ed po ery sca ered (Site 6) in an area recovered, sites 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, da ng between with rocky outcrops and bordered by a steep the 10th and the 11th /12th century AD. In Contrada slope on the south, which made ground visibility Giardinello, located south of the creek that fl ows low during the fi eld survey. We collected a few from north-east to south-west, we iden fi ed 4 fragments of handmade impasto po ery da ng areas with concentra ons of materials da ng to to the Protohistoric period. It is almost impossible the Arab-Norman period (10th –12th century AD). to date the body sherds of impasto po eries more Site 1, covering 1.04 ha, is located in a plain with a precisely, but a fragment in a grayish material newly planted olive grove, sloping slightly towards with reddened surfaces and a painted geometric the south-east, on the right uphill with respect to lozenge pa ern (Figure 5) is likely to be from a small water source covered by wild brambles. the Serraferlicchio period (Middle Copper Age/ The other three areas with materials (2, 3 and 4) Eneolithic, 2800-2500 BC) (ADAMO AND GULLÌ, are less extensive, measuring respec vely 0.047 2012: 603, n. 5-16-17, 605, n. 3 Vangu del Lupo ha, 0.0009 ha and 0.14 ha, and are located a very in Montallegro-AG)). Three more small sites were short distance north of Site 1. iden fi ed in the valley below and to the south of the above-men oned plateau (Sites 7, 8 and Another site (Site 5) is located further north, 9), where we found body sherds of achroma c on the top of a small hill (accessible only from the impasto po ery, probably da ng to the Bronze western side) lying at the foothill of the southern Age (1800-1200 BC). slopes of Rocche di Castro. The site is in a fl at area that is delimited towards the south by a cliff and In the southern part of the study area (Valle on the remaining sides by dry stone walls. The Fredda toponym), on top of a small relief limit fi rst survey allowed us to discover the remains reached by the path of an ancient trazzera, a of a Modern period mannara, or sheepfold. The concentra on of stones and fragments of les area of po ery sherds has been divided into two and diagnos c po ery (Site 16), such as black parts (or topographic units), the east part of gloss fi nished po ery, suggested the presence which is UT01 and the west part UT02. of an ancient farm (6th-5th century BC). A more intensive occupa on of the study area dates back We collected a wide range of diagnos c po ery sherds da ng to the 10th –11th/12th century (small shards of black-glazed po ery indicate an occupa on also during the archaic/ classical and Hellenis c period). Together with Medieval vacuolated les (D’ANGELO, 1989; ARCIFA, 2010: 108-109; ROTOLO, 2011), which have been iden fi ed in several sites all over Sicily, we also picked up a fragment that presented both vacuoli and a combed surface (Figure 6, A).

We also found several examples of the widely Figure 5. Fragment of Serraferlicchio style po ery. a ested handles of amphora with ellip cal

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Figure 6. A) Vacuolated le with combed surface (Site 1); B) Handles of amphora with ellip cal sec ons and one or more longitu- dinal dents in the middle; C) Handles of amphora with ellip cal sec ons, longitudinal dent in the middle and brownish decora on. sec ons and one or more longitudinal dents in As regards the rims, some of them were ver cal, the middle (Figure 6, B) (ARDIZZONE, GAROFANO wrought externally, rounded with a tapered sec on AND GRECO 1997-1998: 673, A17, 10th-12th and belonged to amphorae with small mouths and century); some of these handles also presented short necks (Figure 7, A)6. traces of brownish decora on (Figure 6, C), the decora ons consist of brown or reddish stokes, which 6 Comparisons for 10th-11th century: Gruppo V of Contrada can be perpendicular to the length of the handle San Nicola in , see ARDIZZONE, GAROFANO AND (MACCARI POISSON, 1984: I, 273, tab. 16, 276, tab. GRECO 1997-1998: 675; ARDIZZONE, 2012: 103 note 18, I, da ng to the 11th-12th century, and ARDIZZONE, 53 «Anfore con orlo simile a questo po, anch’esse acrome e con diametri confrontabili con i nostri, sono GAROFANO and GRECO 1997-1998: 673, A17, da ng sta recupera nei contes di XI secolo a Casale Nuovo to the 10th-12th century) or longitudinal (MACCARI (Mazara), cfr. MOLINARI AND VALENTE, 1995: 417, tab. III, POISSON, 1984: 276, da ng to the 10th-11th century). 9-10. Un frammento di orlo acromo è stato recuperato in Via Torremuzza a Palermo in un contesto dell’XI secolo (fi g. 39, I). Frammen analoghi provengono dal Chiostro di San Domenico a Palermo (fi g. 40), cfr. LESNES, 1998: 17, tav.

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Figure 7. A) Amphorae with a small mouth and a short neck; B) Painted amphorae with a small mouth and a short neck.

Other amphorae with small mouths and short Globular pots with everted subver cal necks presented carinated rims, with traces of rims, grooved bellies, red fabric and calcite linear decora ons in red or brown paint (Figure inclusions (see ARCIFA and LESNES 1997: 7, B)7. 406- 412, 407, fi g. 2a (10th-11th century) and the fragments from the church of the Gancia Other fragments belonged to wide-mouthed in Palermo (ARDIZZONE, PEZZINI and SACCO amphorae with ver cal and externally folded 2014: 222) were also present (Figure 8, B). rims, with a rib between the rim and the neck Transparent-glazed basins with green and (Figure 8, A)8. brown decora ons and green glazed fragments of tableware were also found (Figure 8, C) (see MOLINARI, 1997a: 377; FIORILLA, 1995: 206; RIZZO, 2004: 64, fi g. 18). II»; ARDIZZONE et al. 2012: 170 nn. 57013, 57014, 57015; MACCARI POISSON, 1984: 273, I, tav. 16, E, 267, tav. 12, F). Two other small areas of ceramic sherds (Sites 7 Comparisons for second half of 10th–fi rst half 11th century: Gruppo IV of Contrada San Nicola in Carini 11, 12) are located in the north-eastern part of CSN 20, see ARDIZZONE, GAROFANO and GRECO, 1997- the Bona Furtuna estate. We collected only very 1998: 674); ARCIFA and LESNES, 1997: 409, fi g. 2a, 6 o few small fragments, which may indicate a low 10; ARDIZZONE, 2012: 91 fi g. 31, n. 20; ROTOLO, 2012: Cm3.66.01-595/Cm3.61.02-464/Bu3.75-524; ARDIZZONE occupa on of the area during the Modern period et al. 2012: 170 n. 57015; ALFANO and SACCO, 2014: 20, (18th-19th century AD). VIUT 149.19); 8 Comparisons for 10th–11th century: Group II, second half Other sites of historical interest are Sites 10, of 10th–fi rst half 11th century, of Contrada San Nicola in Carini in ARDIZZONE, GAROFANO and GRECO 1997- 13, 14 and 15. They are par cularly interes ng 1998: 672, A2-A12; ARDIZZONE, 2012: 90-94; MACCARI because of the presence of architectural POISSON, 1984: 275 tab. 17, C-I; ALFANO and SACCO structures related to the ac vi es of pre-industrial 2014: 19 (VIUT156.5), 30, fi g. 38 (VIUT135.5, VIUT135.6, shepherds. VIUT135.7, VIUT135.9 VIUT135.11, VIUT135.13); RIZZO, 2004: 115, 45).

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Figure 8. A) Sherds of amphorae with folded, ver cal and ribbed rim; B) Fragments of globular pots with everted rims and grooves on external body surface; C) Fragments of transparent-glazed po ery with green and brown decora ons and green glazed po ery.

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Site 10 is located in the north-eastern part technique is characterized by dry stone walls of the estate. During the fi rst survey it was (Figure 10). completely covered by thick vegeta on. A er clearing the area of bushes, we were able to On top of the same relief where Site 13 was iden fy a large enclosure made of dry limestone situated, but towards the south, we iden fi ed walls (1.5 m in height and 1 m thick), protec ng several piles of hewn stones (Site 14), probably an irregularly quadrangular room (accessible by resul ng from the clearing of the ground in

Figure 9. On the le , a detail of the rectangular room of a large sheepfold; on the right, the circular base of a small tower of the mannara (Site 10). a small opening on the eastern side). Slightly order to facilitate animal grazing. In the area, uphill with respect to this enclosure we observed we also localized the remains of some shepherd a circular tower-like structure with dry stone shelters, known as pagghiari; they have similar walls, with a preserved height of about 2 m and characteris cs: a circular shape, an entrance from an entrance on the south side. We have proposed the northwest and dry-stone walls. In this kind that the structure is a mannara, but further study of structure, the lower part of the hut is made is needed to be er understand the infra-site of stones, while the higher part of the walls and organiza on of the spaces and the func onality the roof are made of perishable materials such as of each structure (Figure 9). wood, earth and straw (Figure 11).

On the north side of a plateau on top of a relief At the foot of the south-western slopes of west of Monte Barraù, close to the trazzera (dirt Monte Barraù and south of the ruins of Casa road), we discovered another enclosure (Site 13). Paternostro (named a er the baronial family As in the case previously described, the enclosure protects a smaller chamber, and the building

Varia Revista ArkeoGazte, 7, 2017, pp. 175-192 Long-term human occupation of a rural landscape in Central-Western Sicily... 185 who owned the main baglio/masseria9 of the area), there is another large enclosure (Site 15) with a smaller square chamber a ached to the south-western side of the enclosure. The whole structure is built with the same construc on technique: limestone walls without mortar, with rubble fi lling (the sec ons of the walls are approximately 1 m) (Figure 12).

5. Discussion: the long occupa on of a Sicilian rural landscape

This preliminary fi eld research serves as an ini al contribu on to the understanding of the long-term se lement dynamics of the Monte Barraù area. The archaeological poten al uncovered in the surface surveys permits us to outline a number of considera ons relevant to future research in this area. A fi rst phase of occupa on below the slopes of Pizzo Castro in prehistoric mes (Middle Eneolithic/Bronze Age) was followed by the se lement of the plateau on the small hill south of the Giardinello river in the Classical age. No evidence of se lement centres was found for the Roman period; this fact Figure 10. Detail of the dry stone wall from the mannara could lead us to assume that this small por on (Site 13). of land may not have been fully inserted within the main communica on arteries and was li le The data gathered do not permit us, at the used for the building of residen al structures moment, to understand the transi on dynamics or cul va on of agricultural crops, though we from Late An quity to the Early Middle Ages (an cannot exclude that the area was used for lumber overview of the general tendencies in Sicily can harves ng and seasonal sylvo-pastoral ac vi es. be found in PENSABENE, 2010; MOLINARI, 2009 We cannot exclude the presence of pre-exis ng and 2012; CASTRORAO BARBA, 2015) due to a Roman structures below the medieval sites or at lack of material evidence. The surveys instead the edges of the study area either. This possible show an intensifi ca on of human presence in a chronological gap, however, could be clarifi ed period iden fi able between the 10th and the 12th by enlarging the study area and comparing the century AD, a period including the late stages se lement models of the ancient era in the Mon of Islamic rule and the Norman period. At the Sicani sector. present state of the studies, the material aspect of these types of rural sites in western Sicily is not well understood10; their appearance in an area

9 A baglio/masseria is halfway between a sort of castle and a farm; it is the centre of concentra on of agro-pastoral 10 To date, the excava on of a for fi ed granary from the produc on and it is controlled by a landlord. Islamic period at Pizzo Monaco on the Mon di is

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Figure 11 The base of a circular hut, pagghiaro, used as a seasonal shelter by shepherds (Site 14). with li le or no exploita on in previous centuries could indicate new se lement strategies that 1998: 93, fi g. 4, tab. 1-7; ARCIFA and LESNES 1997: 411, fi g. 3.5; ARCIFA, 2010: 124) or the hydraulic infrastructure were perhaps related to new agricultural of the qanāt type (BIANCONE and TUSA, 1997), remain prac ces11 connected to a greater and more more ephemeral. «Water from streams, rivers, springs and wells – to which access rights were an important issue – was directed unique (ROTOLO and MARTIN CIVANTOS 2013), whereas through ditches and channels which criss-crossed the th th the 10 to 13 century AD contexts are be er known, countryside, supplying the fi elds, popula on and many including the elevated sites at Brucato (PESEZ, 1984), watermills and market gardens... Terms of reference to Calathament (LESNES and POISSON, 2013), Segesta hydro-technologies account for surviving Sicilian dialect (MOLINARI, 1997b), Entella (CORRETTI, 2002; CORRETTI et terms of Arabic origin too. Examples which have not al., 2004) and Iato (ISLER, 1995), open villages (casali) at become en rely obsolete include, ga uso (from the Arabic the villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina (PENSABENE, 2010), qadūs, referring to an interconnec ng, ceramic sec on of Caliata a Montevago (CASTELLANA, 1992) or the recent a water conduit); saia (a water channel from the Arabic village in Colmitella a Racalmuto, occupied between the sāqiya); and gébbia (Arabic jābiya, an ar fi cial reservoir). Byzan ne and Norman periods (RIZZO et al., 2012). On The Islamic period also witnessed the introduc on of new se lement pa erns in the Sicilian countryside between crops and plants, such as citrus fruits and date palms. th th the 10 and 13 centuries AD, see MAURICI, 1992; Henna for dyeing was a ested around Par nico and in MOLINARI, 2004 and 2010; NEF and ARDIZZONE, 2014. western Sicily; mulberry trees on which silkworms fed 11 The so-called “green revolu on” or Islamic “agricultural were not uncommon. In addi on, we fi nd sumac seeds for revolu on” (intensive irrigated agriculture and the cooking and tanning, as well as sugar cane. At Palermo, introduc on of new species, see WATSON, 1983 (in Ibn Óawqal had admired the papyrus plants which were general) and, for Sicily, BARBERA, 2000; MOLINARI, 2010: cul vated within the city and used to manufacture rope 231-232; TRAMONTANA, 2014: 102-162) is men oned and, more importantly, high-quality paper rolls for the in wri en sources beginning in the 10th century (IBN administra on. These, the fi rst paper documents to HAWAQL, Libro delle vie e dei reami, in Amari M. 1880- be a ested in medieval Europe, were technologically 1882, Biblioteca arabo-sicula, Turin-Rome), though advanced, but were too fragile to stand the test of me» archaeological fi ndings, such as vasi da noria (ARCIFA, (METCALFE, 2009, p. 64).

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presumably between the 18th century and the fi rst half of the 20th century, the area was used for forestry and pastoral ac vi es within a road axis – trazzera – for transhumance along which various pens— mannare —for sheltering animals are located. This type of structure presents a layout of several enclosures made from dry stonework bases with brambles or spiny branches of gorse or blackthorn placed on top; the diff erent pens were used to separate ca le by age and condi on, while other smaller areas could serve as places for shearing and dairy produc on (GIACOMARRA, Figure 12. Dry stone walls from the mannara near Casa Pa- 2003: 78-79; 2006: 61-62). Small, o en circular ternostro (Site 15). structures made with the same technique of dry stone walls and roofs covered by grasses and systema c exploita on of the many water sources shrubbery arranged in interwoven branches—so- present just a short distance from the sites. The called pagghiari—were temporary housing for discovery of amphorae, glazed po ery tableware shepherds along these paths of transhumance and glass is an addi onal factor for characterizing (GIACOMARRA 2003: 80-81; 2006: 67-68). the nature of these sites as places of agricultural produc on situated within commercial networks through which they could access goods from 6. Concluding remarks: towards a holis c the major neighboring towns or coastal ci es. th th approach to studying historical landscapes over The stra graphic inves ga on of site 5 (10 -13 the long-term century), the most promising for its dominant 12 topographical posi on and the wealth of The assessment of the historical and materials found on its surface, could greatly archaeological poten al of the Monte Barraù/ enrich our knowledge about the rural world of Contrade Castro and Giardinello area is a the Islamic and Norman periods, providing an prerequisite for se ng up a working agenda opportunity to understand the spa al, social and focused on the landscape seen as a palimpsest produc ve dynamics of farming communi es in of interac ons between ecological dynamics and a period of rapid transi on between diff erent human processes over the long term. economic and poli cal systems. In a mul - and inter-disciplinary perspec ve, The exploita on of this area by rural diff erent sources for the reconstruc on of communi es did not cease with the abandonment environmental and human history of this rural of medieval se lements, as is evidenced by district will be integrated: concentra ons of materials. At a me which is diffi cult to defi ne within a precise span, but • Archaeological research: planning stra graphic excava ons in order to 12 This site shows a direct visual connec vity with the understand chronology, func on, nearby Castellaccio di Campofi orito (approx. 3 km away), topography of the sites iden fi ed by the a medieval castle (12th-15th century) built on top of a fi eld survey. hill occupied by an ancient indigenous se lement (7th- 6th century BC) and also frequented in Roman mes (1st century BC-1st century AD) (GRADITI and VASSALLO, 2010).

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