Ethnic identities and cultural interaction among indigenes, Greek and Phoenician settlers in West Sicily (8th/7th-5th centuries BC). The case of Monte Castellazzo di Poggioreale.

Abstract

This doctoral thesis is part of, and aims to contribute to, the wider debate on the first relations between the local population and the Greek and Phoenician settlers in western Sicily from the mid 7th century BCE onwards. The work presents unpublished materials relating to the analysis of some of the excavation areas investigated on the indigenous site of Monte Castellazzo di Poggioreale during the years 1978-1981 (Campo III). A detailed analysis of the architecture, stratigraphy and pottery associated with these excavations revealed important changes in the local environment, which has been compared with other contemporary sites and which can be attributed to the first contacts with the new-settlers. The new data resulting from this analysis form the core of the research, providing further chronological-typological links to the classification of ceramics produced in indigenous centres between the late 8th and late 6th/early 5th centuries BCE.
The second fundamental aspect of this study was the creation of a network between the various public institutions involved in the protection and promotion of the archaeological heritage of the modern municipality of Poggioreale (to which the ancient site of Monte Castellazzo refers). Among the main results of the research were projects involving local schools and archaeology students from the University of Palermo. Finally, the forthcoming resumption of research on the site (September 2025), guaranteed by an agreement recently signed between the University of Palermo and the Segesta Archaeological Park, is certainly at the same time the most recent addition to this project and the first of the research to come.

Date of Award	17 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Tamar Hodos Lucas (Supervisor)