The project belongs to the CNR-ISMed research line “Societies and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean” managed by Stefania Pafumi and is part of the activities of Stefania Pafumi’s self-financed project “Societies and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean”.

CNR-ISMed scientific manager: Stefania Pafumi

Partners

• University of Catania – School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage
• CNR-ISPC (Institute of Sciences for Cultural Heritage)
• Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento

Role of ISMed: ISMed is a partner following an agreement stipulated with the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento.

Duration of the agreement: Four-yearly (2023-2027)

Financing: Self-financed

Search context

The Villa of Durrueli, in the territory of Realmonte (province of Agrigento), was discovered in 1907, during the works for the construction of the Castelvetrano-Porto Empedocle railway. On that occasion various environments were brought to light. The archaeological investigations were resumed in the 70s and 80s of the last century by the Superintendency of Agrigento, in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba (Japan).

The villa dates back to the 1st century. d. C. and develops around a central peristyle onto which there are rooms decorated with marble and polychrome mosaics. Another large wing of the structure dates back to the 2nd century. A.D. and includes the remains of private baths.

Goals

The Roman Villa of Durrueli preserves historical-archaeological evidence relating to a maritime villa from the imperial Roman age. This represents a unique opportunity for the reconstruction of the population dynamics, the socio-cultural and administrative organization, the production system and the logic of economic exploitation along the southern side of the Sicilian territory. Led by the Department of Humanities and the School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage of the University of Catania, in partnership with the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento and with the cooperation of CNR-ISMed and CNR-ISPC, the project aims to resume historical-archaeological investigations (excavation and study of materials) and promote a series of site restoration, monitoring and valorization actions with important repercussions on the territory.

The CNR-ISMed operational unit will mainly deal with historical-archaeological research and the study of the mosaic and decorative systems of the villa.

Additional Information: The project is included among the activities of the Extended Partnership 5 – Cultural Heritage project, CHANGES Project, Spoke 6 “History, Conservation and Restoration of the Cultural Heritage” led by the University of Catania.

First archaeological excavation campaign: From 3 to 23 June 2024 (excavation open to university students, PhD students, archeology specialists)

Links

• Project website (in preparation)
• Project social media channels (in preparation)
• Facebook page of the School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage-Univ. of Catania: https://www.facebook.com/ssbaunict/
• Link to the excavation registration form: https://forms.gle/TuU6teRYo8Ne9JPw9

Call deadline: 15 March 2024

Keywords

• Ancient Mediterranean
• Roman Sicily
• Maritime villa Historical-archaeological research