Search

Si inquadra il progetto dell'ipogeo nel contesto delle trasformazioni subite dal settore meridionale della città di Agrigento nella tarda antichità. Si analizza quindi la la nuova funzione svolta dello stesso ipogeo in età medievale.

The paper reports the results of the archaeological excavations carried out between 2000 and 2007 in the Early Christian cemetery of Villagrazia di Carini. Four periods were recognized in stratigraphy, from late antiquity to the mid-twentieth century. The sepulchral typologies are arcosolia, loculi, "tombe a mensa" and "formae". The cemetery was used by the Christian community of the ancient diocese of Hykkara from the 4th to at least the 7th century A.D.

Il contributo costituisce il primo studio unitario sulla catacomba e sulle aree funerarie cristiane sub-divo delle Regiones III, IV e V di Sabratha (Libia). After the earthquake of 365 A.D., the gradual process of Christianisation that involved the territories of North Africa left many signs in the Regio Tripolitania. Sabratha became a diocesan centre during the 4th and 5th centuries, and the Paleochristian catacomb, excavated after the Peace of the Church in year 313, is the first attestation of the new faith, togerther with the open-air funerary areas distributed between the episcopal complex of the Regio III, the Oceanus Thermae, the Theatre in the Regio IV and the Temple of Hercules.

This paper shows the data edited and acquired in June and October 2010 by surveys in Sabratha made by researchers at the University of Palermo, in collaboration whit the CNR ITABC for the PRIN 2008 Project. It consists of a preliminary study for an archaeological gis of Sabratha to promote analysis regarding the riuse of space in the Regiones III-V of Sabratha, after the destruction attribuited to the earthquake on 21th July 365. In particular, the paper presents the results of the first study concerning the catacomb in the eastern suburbs, the sub-divo funerary areas between the churches 3 and 4 and the so-called Baths ofOceanus, the necropolis sub-divo North-East of the Theater and, finally, the tombs near the Temple of Hercules.

The materials found in the catacomb of Villagrazia di Carini consist essentially of African Red Slip Ware, coarse ware of probable African production and oil lamps, both Tripolitan and types Atlante VIII and X. Almost all the materials have been regularly published in the reports of the excavations carried out by the Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra and the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Palermo, from 2000 to date: a first catalogue have been published in the Proceedings of the IX National Congress of Christian Archeology (2007), followed by updates in Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana (2009) and in a recent study by E. Vitale about the territory of the Early Christian diocese of Carines (Studi di Archeologia II, 2011). Interpreted as the elements of the funerary (pottery) and functional (oil lamps) ritual , the finds fit well within the framework of the productions circulating in the Mediterranean basin between the mid-4th and the 6th-7th centuries AD. Most of the finds come from alluvial layers or from the abandonment levels, or (in the case of objects found inside the burials) from layers tampered with by acts of violation; all this, obviously, does not diminish the documentary value of these products, which circulated in North-western Sicily while the catacomb was in use for funerary purposes.

The cemetery (m 29 x 39), excavated and restored by G. Caputo in the Thirties of the twentieth century, borders westwards the cardo which leads to the Early Christian churches of Regio III, and southwards the Theatre decumanus. The burial area comprises 84 tomb sub-divo, violated or with the gravestones moved. The burial types are: 1) the forma, attested by 43 specimens, 2) the case, rectangular or anthropomorphic, with 26 specimens, 3) nine cupae, characterized by a semi-cylindrical crown placed directly on the gravestones or on a base of limestone blocks, and 4) the mound, only one example. The space organization seems to follow clear rules: all the burials are in fact concentrated in the southern half of the insula, in parallel rows of 4-5 tombs or in less ordered groups of cases. Along the cardo and the decumanus, the cemetery continues beyond its limits with a row of cupae for children. The graveyard covered an area abandoned after the earthquake of 365 d.C.; it was related to some Late Roman houses built on the ruins of the Theatre.

Researchers at the University of Palermo, in collaboration with the CNR ITABC for the project PRIN 2008, they have made a preliminary study for an archaeological GIS divided into areas I-XI of Sabratha to gather information on the monuments already studied, or under study, and to promote analysis regarding the reuse of space in the Regiones III-V, after the destruction attributed to the earthquake on 21th of July 365. We present the results of the studies on the Roman Baths of the Regio V and on the Episcopal Complex. The roman baths in the Regio V, insula 1 was born in the second century, with the planning of the Theatre District. Stratigraphic excavations conducted under the mosaics had pointed out the pre-existing structures of the Theatre District (period I); by means of the analysis of the surviving structures has been possible to propose a return of the volumes of the bathroom calculated on the Roman foot (29.60 centimeters) and its phases: the project of the second century (period II.1) and the expansion of the third century (period II.2) with the occupation of the south and east streets. It was assumed continuity of use after the earthquake of 365 for the extraordinary state of preservation of the structures with respect to the Baths of Ocean that were completely destroyed and the Baths of the Regio III, which were transformed into the early Christian Episcopal Complex and had determined the funerary use of adjacent spaces (areas VIII, IX and X of the GIS). The Theater District had lost the characteristics which had distinguished it from the second till the fourth centuries. The transformations of the urban spaces, between the last quarter of the fourth and the fifth centuries, was realized through the bishops and the Christian community; the Episcopal complex had the primary role of the catechetical and the baptismal liturgy even in the late-Vandalic and pre-Byzantine periods, but the most prestigious building in the Forum - the ancient Roman Basilica transformed by the Vandals in the Arian church - was converted to the Orthodox creed after the Byzantine conquest and it become the new cathedral. Justinian himself promoted the built of a new church in the Forum square, which is a rare example of Byzantine church for the splendid mosaic with “Tree of Life”. * La ricerca è stata concordata e condivisa con i Colleghi del Dipartimento alle Antichità di Sabratha, cui sono profondamente grata per il sostegno e l’amichevole ospitalità garantiti a tutti i componenti la Missione dell’Università di Palermo. 47

Il poster presenta gli esiti della ricerca archeologica nella catacomba paleocristiana di Villagrazia di Carini negli anni 2008-2010. Alla rimozione degli strati di interro alluvionale, che ingombravano i settori indagati (gallerie VII-X e cubicolo X.20), si è affiancata l'analisi delle consistenze architettoniche, che ha consentito di delineare le diverse fasi della frequentazione per uso funerario. Ulteriori interessanti dati sono emersi dall'analisi dei resti osteologici e dalle operazioni di pulitura delle pareti dagli strati fangosi, che ha riportato alla luce nuovi apparati decorativi pittorici. The text introduces the results of the archaeological excavations carried out during the years 2008-2010 in the Christian catacomb of Villagrazia di Carini by the University of Palermo (scientific direction Prof. R.M. Carra, in agreement with the Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra. The interventions have regarded the galleries GVII, whose floor has been reached; GVIII, where the floor with its formae has entirely brought to light; GIX, object of a careful revision after the investigation of the wall tombs; and GX, where has been started the exploration of the wide cubicle X.20

Analisi iconografcia e stilistica degli apparati pittorici presenti nei cimiteri tardoantichi della Sicilia

Dati di scavo, analisi strutturale e degli apparati pittorici dei cubicoli al momento più rappresentativi della catacomba.