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Comunicación presentada en el 28th European Archaelogical Association Annual Meeting, organizado por la European Archaelogical Association y celebrado en Budapest (Hungría), 31 agosto – 3 septiembre 2022

SOLITUDO SICULA SP. NOV. FIGS 4–5 Zoobank registration: urn: lsid: zoobank. org:act: F5011B57-E559-4F72-9131-D457D8B6B998. Holotype: ZCSP US.0-Q2, an almost complete right femur, missing only part of the major trochanter (Fig. 4). Paratypes: ZCSP US.0-Q1, a fragment of a right ischium (Fig. 5A, B); ZCSP US.2-Q4, a left pubis (Fig. 5C, D); ZCSP US.0-Q3, an ungual phalanx (Fig. 5 E-G). Due to the uncertainty of the attribution of the four skeletal remains to a single individual (see below), we do not group the ischium, the pubis and the phalanx along with the femur as a single holotype, but we keep them separated. Type locality and age: Zubbio di Cozzo San Pietro Cave, Municipality of Bagheria, near Palermo, northwestern Sicily, Italy. Latest Late Pleistocene. For details about the locality, see Locality information above. The tortoise remains here described come from an archaeological funerary area (Battaglia et al., 2020) placed at a depth of − 15.4 m from the entrance and characterized by disturbance caused by human and/or animal activity that determined a complex stratigraphy. The remains of the pubis, ZCSP US.2-Q4, was AMS-dated revealing an age of 12.5 ± 0.5 kya BP (Supporting Information, Fig. S3). All the tortoise material is referred to the latest Late Pleistocene assuming that it belongs to the same, extremely rare taxon (large-sized tortoises have never been reported in the several Sicilian Late Pleistocene-Holocene archaeological and paleontological sites so far studied), even if not necessarily to a single specimen (considering the alteration of the stratigraphy, a non-demonstrable but likely option because of non-anatomical overlap of the preserved skeletal elements, as well as their congruent size and common testudinid morphology). Etymology: Latin adjective in feminine gender, meaning ‘Sicilian’. Diagnosis: Member of Solitudo based on the generic characters mentioned above. Differing from other species of Solitudo in having trochanters that are at the same height with the femoral head, and a femoral head that is clearly elliptical, whereas in other species trochanters extend beyond the femoral head and the latter is not elliptical. Description Femur: ZCSP US.0-Q2 (Fig. 4; Supporting Information, Fig. S4) is a well-preserved right femur with a total length of 104 mm. The diaphysis is relatively slender and almost rectilinear, with a slight curvature on the distal part [more rectilinear than femora of Te. hermanni (adult and young individuals) and Te. marginata]. The dimensions of the narrowest point of the diaphysis are 13.1 × 12.9 mm. It is not possible to measure the original width of the femur at the level of the trochanters, as the trochanter major is laterally incomplete. The width of its preserved portion is 32 mm. The maximum width of the distal epiphysis is 37 mm. The neck is well defined, relatively long and contracted with respect to the maximum width of the head (not as in the Menorcan species which has a femoral head detached even more clearly from the neck). The minimum width of the neck is 22 mm; its minimum thickness is 16 mm. The intertrochanteric fossa is wide and occupies the entire surface between the trochanters; it is approximately 10 mm deep. The trochanters do not extend more proximally compared to the femoral head (see Supporting Information, Appendix S1 for comments on the orientation of the femur). The lateral surface of the head neck is nearly vertical, the head does not overhang the shaft as in Te. hermanni and Te. marginata. The two trochanters are joined ventrally (so that the intertrochanteric fossa does not open ventrally), but the muscular insertion surfaces are clearly separated, and in medial view, the space between these two surfaces becomes thinner until it forms a relatively thin crest. In ventral view, this crest is not rectilinear but forms a wide ‘U’ (above which much of the head of the femur is visible). These areas of muscular insertion are clear, as they are defined by a thin ridge. A similar ridge delimits the ventral margin of the muscular insertion surface of the head—the one that overlooks the intertrochanteric fossa; another similar crest delimits the insertion region of the distal condyles. The area of muscular insertion of the small trochanter is clearly triangular, and probably also that of the great trochanter, although the latter is partially incomplete. On the anterior surface of the diaphysis of the femur, at the small trochanter, there is a long ridge of muscular insertion of the femorotibialis (more than half of the diaphysis) evident but moderately developed (although not as much as in Te. marginata); it remains close to the edge between the anterior and ventral surface. On the posterior surface of the diaphysis, in connection with the great trochanter, there is an elongated area (depression with an irregular base) of muscular insertion of the adductor femoris, which expands distally by curving in a dorsal direction until it reaches the dorsal edge of the posterior surface at about the half of the diaphysis. The femoral head is narrow, narrower than the combined width of the trochanters (even more if we account for the missing part) and oval, clearly elliptical in outline, being oriented at an angle of approximately 30° compared to the anteroposterior plane. Distally, the tibial and fibular condyles are connected by a ridge ventrally, which is gently curved but only weakly developed. Ischium: ZCSP US.0-Q1 (Fig. 5A, B; Supporting Information, Fig. S5) is an incomplete right ischium, missing the anteromedial area that contacts with the contralateral element and with the pubis. The anterior margin is laminar (it forms a sharp crest). On its ventral surface, at this anterior laminar margin there is a moderate depression medially bounded by an evident termination. The posterior margin is rounded and in dorsal view it forms a wide concavity. The dorsal surface near the medial margin is slightly concave. Posteromedially, the lateral ischial process forms a sort of low and broad tubercle with a rough surface (note that in Te. hermanni and Te. marginata, the morphology is completely different, taking the shape of a pointed process). Near the posteromedial margin, the ischium thickens ventrally as it is also indicated by the shape of the suture area with the left ischium. The posterior surface of this thickened area is characterized by an area of muscular insertion delimited by a small ridge similar to that of the trochanters of the femur. Pubis: ZCSP US.2-Q4 (Fig. 5C, D) was an incomplete right pubis, preserving only its posterolateral portion. The three articular facets and the laminar region leading to the two other processes are preserved. This element has been destructively sampled for AMSdating and no longer exists. U n g u a l p h a l a n x: Z C S P U S.0- Q 3 (F i g. 5E - G; Supporting Information, Fig. S6) is an ungual phalanx, with a length of 29 mm. The articular facet is divided into two concavities separated by a vertical convexity. The upper portion of the proximal epiphysis is clearly projecting. On its ventral surface, near the facet joint, there are two prominent foramina. The gross morphology of the phalanx is clearly different from that of Testudo spp.; it is wide and flat instead of being rounded in section. Size: The femur is much larger than that of Te. marginata, which is the largest extant tortoise species in Europe (Ernst & Barbour, 1989; Bringsøe et al., 2001). For example, the Te. marginata femur MDHC 370 has a length of 51 mm, while the straight carapace length of the same specimen is 300 mm. On the basis of the length difference of the femora (ZCSP US.0-Q2 is 104 mm long), we estimate the straight carapace length of the extinct Sicilian tortoise as exceeding 50 cm and maybe up to 60 cm, i.e. significantly larger than that of extant Te. hermanni [up to 37.5 cm in the Balkans and up to 22 cm in the western Mediterranean (Cheylan, 2001)], or any other Testudo species. The size record for Te. marginata, the largest species of the genus, is 40 cm, but most specimens are significantly smaller (Bringsøe et al., 2001)., Published as part of Valenti, Pietro, Vlachos, Evangelos, Kehlmaier, Christian, Fritz, Uwe, Georgalis, Georgios L., Luján, Àngel Hernández, Miccichè, Roberto, Sineo, Luca & Delfino, Massimo, 2022, The last of the large-sized tortoises of the Mediterranean islands, pp. 1704-1717 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 (4) on pages 1711-1714, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac044, http://zenodo.org/record/7390583, {"references":["Battaglia G, Micciche RM, Forgia V, Mannino MA, Scopelliti MG, Sineo L, Valenti P. 2020. New perspectives on the human occupation of the Gulf of Palermo during the Metal Ages: the funerary cave of Zubbio di Cozzo San Pietro (Bagheria) and the necropolis of Viale Venere (Mondello, Palermo). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 31: 102276.","Ernst CH, Barbour RW. 1989. Turtles of the world. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.","Bringsoe H, Buskirk JR, Willemsen RE. 2001. Testudo marginata Schoepff, 1792 - Breitrandschildkrote. In: Fritz U, ed. Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, Band 3 / IIIA, Schildkroten (Testudines I) Bataguridae, Testudinidae, Emydidae. Wiebelsheim: Aula-Verlag, 291 - 334.","Cheylan M. 2001. Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789 - Griechische Landschildkrote. In: Fritz U, ed. Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas, Band 3 / IIIA, Schildkroten (Testudines I) Bataguridae, Testudinidae, Emydidae. Wiebelsheim: Aula-Verlag, 179 - 289."]}

SOLITUDO GEN. NOV. Zoobank registration: urn: lsid: zoobank. org:act: 08DE006C-E90B-4605-9711-952D72904E 5F. Type species: Testudo robusta Leith-Adams, 1877; Zubbo Cave = Zebbug Cave, Malta; Middle Pleistocene. Etymology: From the Latin word solitudo, feminine, third declension, meaning solitude, loneliness, in allusion to the insular isolation of these tortoises. Also, the termination - tudo alludes to the name Testudo and the testudinid affinities of this new taxon. Diagnosis: Members of Solitudo belong to Testudinidae because of the ventral fusion of the trochanters of the femur. However, Solitudo species show an incomplete fusion of the trochanters dorsally, in contrast to other testudinid genera in which the trochanters are connected proximally via a rounded ridge. Furthermore, members of Solitudo have femurs that are slender, with a femoral head that is narrower than the combined anteroposterior width of the trochanters and an oblique orientation compared to the anteroposterior plane between 25°–45°, in contrast to other genera with relatively massive femora and broad and less oblique femoral heads, forming an angle that is less than 25° with the anteroposterior plane. Included taxa: Solitudo robusta (Leith-Adams, 1877) comb. nov., Solitudo gymnesica (Bate, 1914) comb. nov., Solitudo sicula sp. nov. Remarks: The exact placement of Solitudo among Testudininae is unclear and should be examined when new material (skull, shell)is discovered.The femur alone, in its distinctiveness, does not allow firm assessment of the phylogenetic relationship with respect to any potentially related taxon (Centrochelys, Stigmochelys, Testudo and Titanochelon). It is noteworthy that the establishment of new fossil taxa on the basis of appendicular elements is not rare among testudinids, and has been used, besides most other insular taxa mentioned already, for the recently described species Chelonoidis marcanoi Turvey et al., 2017 from the Quaternary of Hispaniola (Turvey et al., 2017)., Published as part of Valenti, Pietro, Vlachos, Evangelos, Kehlmaier, Christian, Fritz, Uwe, Georgalis, Georgios L., Luján, Àngel Hernández, Miccichè, Roberto, Sineo, Luca & Delfino, Massimo, 2022, The last of the large-sized tortoises of the Mediterranean islands, pp. 1704-1717 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 (4) on page 1711, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac044, http://zenodo.org/record/7390583, {"references":["Leith-Adams A. 1877. On gigantic land-tortoises and a small freshwater species from the ossiferous caverns of Malta, together with a list of their fossil fauna; and a note on chelonian remains from the rock cavities of Gibraltar. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 33: 177 - 191.","Bate DMA. 1914. On remains of a gigantic land tortoise (Testudo gymnesicus n. sp.) from the Pleistocene of Menorca. Geological Magazine 1: 100 - 107.","Turvey ST, Almonte J, Hansford J, Scofield RP, Brocca JL, Chapman SD. 2017. A new species of extinct Late Quaternary giant tortoise from Hispaniola. Zootaxa 4277: 1 - 16."]}

The relationship between the Demeter cults and the offering of piglets is a cornerstone of many discussions about ancient Greek religion. However, this connection has rarely been supported by systematic zooarchaeological studies. The new excavations at the sanctuary of S. Anna greatly increase the zooarchaeological record of Sicily, while also providing an excellent case study for exploring the broader issues of ancient Greek ritual practice. Our results highlight the almost exclusive presence of pig bones, mostly belonging to very young individuals. The taphonomic analysis of the remains point to a cultic context, in which the piglets were used for sacrificial purposes and as part of sacred meals.

[EN] In Spring 2018, a second archaeological campaign (supported and funded by Bona Furtuna LLC) was carried out in the rural site of Contrada Castro (Corleone, Palermo). The main aim was to investigate a building just partially excavated in 2017. The results of this excavation confirmed the sequence, which starts from the late archaic/classical period and then continues with a new settlement from the Byzantine to the Islamic period. Over the collapse layers of some stone structures, not entirely investigated, of the late 6th-5th c. BC a probable area for perinatal burials was created during the 7th-early/mid-8th c. AD. This marginal cemetery area was replaced by a rectangular building for craft activities for pottery production. In fact, in the first phase of this building two pottery kilns were associated with large amounts of productive wastes. The production activities were relatively brief, and one of the kilns was probably reused as an oven. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the use of this building from the late 8th c. AD to the 9th c. AD when it was apparently abandoned: there are no signs of fire or violent destruction. During the 10th c. AD this building was no longer visible and new wall was built with a completely different orientation. The Islamic occupation, covering the entire 10th and 11th c. AD, was heavily damaged by post-abandonment activities of spoliation of stone and agro-pastoral practices that occurred during the last century., Bona Furtuna LLC

Poster at 40th Association for Environmental Archaeology Conference, 30/11-01/12/2019, University of Sheffield (UK), Within the project "Harvesting memories: ecology and archaeology of Monti Sicani landscapes" this paper aims to reconstruct human-environment relationship in the inland of Central-Western Sicily during the Early Middle Ages through a comparative analysis between archaeological data and vegetation dynamics in current landscape. The environmental archaeological record (faunal remains and anthracological/ carpological finds) has been analysed from different layers of the rural settlement (Contrada Castro, Corleone, Palermo) -excavated in 2017, 2018 and 2019- mainly occupied during Byzantine age and Islamic period (8th-11th c. AD). The first examination of charcoals provided the identification of the plant species selected and exploited in the surrounding landscape of the site for each chronological phase. The archaeobotanical data indicates punctual and qualitative picture on the historical vegetation of this area. The phytosociological data allowed the spatial arrangements of archaeobotanical finds within plant communities and its ecological distribution. The archaeozoological data added more information on the reconstruction of rural economy, husbandry management and its ecological environment. An integrated comparison between the structure and composition of current phytocoenoses with archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data allowed to interpret the dynamics of interaction between a rural community and its environment., Financiación: beca "Juan de la Cierva-incorporación, IJCI-2017-31494, MINECO), IJCI-2017-31494" y proyecto "Harvesting Memories" de la Universidad de Palermo (financiado por Bona Furtuna LLC).

From 2017 to 2019 a new rural settlement has been investigated in Contrada Castro (Corleone, Palermo) within the wider framework of the project ¿Harvesting Memories, Ecology and Archaeology of Monti Sicani landscapes¿ (Central-Western Sicily). Following a first occupation dated to the 6th-5th c. BC, the site was re-occupied between the Byzantine and Islamic period (7th-11th c. AD). Under the 10th-11th c. AD structures, a large square buildinghas been uncovered, that shows two subsequent phases dated from the mid-8th c. AD to the 9th c. AD. The structures belonging to the first phase of the building have revealed traces of pottery production, as indicated by the recovery of a two-chambered kiln as well as the presence of several ceramic wastes. This paper presents the material evidence connected to this recently unearthed building and discusses its implication in terms of craft production in a rural area during the transition from the Byzantine to the early Islamic period. This analysis enables us to reassess the existing chrono-typology for specific ceramic vessels, such as painted amphorae- in particular the ones showing band and sinusoidal decoration-and cooking wares recovered from this building. Moreover, the possibility to study specific pottery types in association with both a sound stratigraphic sequence ¿the kiln lies under the 10th-11th c. AD structuresand new radiocarbon data acquired from several key contexts, provides important insights into the material culture of a rural community living in the inland of Sicily between the 8th and 9th c. AD. In addition, we will also introduce the preliminary outcomes of the geological prospection carried out to identify the raw materials suitable for potting within the area, combined with the petrographic analysis of modern clay samples. Such integrated approach enables us to gain a better understanding on ceramic craft-technology, clay procurement strategies and more broadly the consumption of household pottery in the countryside of western Sicily between the late Byzantine period and the early Islamic age, adding to our knowledge of a crucial as well as ¿dark¿ period in the history of Early Medieval Sicily.

The bioarchaeological and forensic approach is increasingly applied in the study of funerary contexts in archaeology. Here, we present a case of an atypical medieval burial recently discovered in Piazza Armerina (Sicily), in which the integrated use of traditional bioarchaeological and forensic anthropology methods was crucial. The skeleton was lying in a prone position and was characterised by a peculiar injury pattern. We recorded six clear stab wound marks on the posterior surface of the sternum. The use of computerised tomography scan and 3D modelling techniques has made it possible to obtain a reliable reconstruction of the cause and modality of death, pointing to the execution of the individual. The importance of this case study is twofold. First, the injury pattern recorded currently constitutes a unicum in the bioarchaeological record. Second, it represents the first well‐documented case of an atypical burial in Sicily.