The Sicilian Countryside in the Early Middle Ages: Human–Environment Interactions at Contrada Castro

Abstract

Within the project 'Harvesting Memories: Ecology and Archaeology of Monti Sicani Landscapes', this paper aims to reconstruct human-environment interactions in the inland areas of Western Sicily during the Early Middle Ages through a comparative analysis of environmental archaeological data. We analyse carpological and anthracological finds and faunal remains originating from different layers of the rural settlement of Contrada Castro (Corleone, Palermo), excavated in 2017-2019. The site was mainly occupied between the Byzantine and Islamic periods (late 8th to 11th c. AD). The examination of wood charcoal enabled the identification of plant species selected and exploited in the landscape of the site for each main chronological period. The archaeobotanical data indicated a precise, qualitative picture on the historical vegetation of this area, accompanied with the agricultural practices of the communities. The zooarchaeological data added further information on the reconstruction of rural economy and animal exploitation patterns. An integrated comparison of the characteristic landscape and the archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data presented the dynamics of agricultural strategy, wood exploitation, and management of animal resources of an early medieval rural community in Western Sicily.

The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily

“…During the Roman Empire, the exploitation of Sicilian oil together with other food resources was slowly replaced with the use of the island as a bridge for the import of Northern African products [26]. Finally, during the Middle Ages, its presence in the hilly Sicilian landscape seems quite spread, with some exceptions, especially in the Islamic areas [27][28][29].…”

Sources of geomaterials in the Sicani Mountains during the Early Middle Ages: A case study of Contrada Castro, central western Sicily

“…This close link with the sustainability of the resources of the surrounding area was also confirmed by the intersection of information between the phytosociological characteristics of the area, the palaeoenvironmental data on wood species and crops associated with the charcoals and seeds found in the sites and the composition of the zooarchaeological record connected to the strategies of animal husbandry (Bazan, Speciale, et al, 2020; Castrorao Barba et al, 2021).…”

Continuity, Resilience, and Change in Rural Settlement Patterns from the Roman to Islamic Period in the Sicani Mountains (Central-Western Sicily)

“…This last phase, heavily eroded over the centuries by subsequent plundering and agricultural activities, can be seen within the full Islamic era (10th-11th century), after which the site was only sporadically frequented between the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century. This site has been the subject of multidisciplinary analyses focused on the study of human-environment interactions, which have highlighted-through zooarchaeological, archaeobotanical, and phytosociological analyses [100]-a long-lasting continuity in the exploitation of environmental and animal resources [101]. The ceramic record demonstrates a good level of economic complexity in this inland area, in which the presence of amphorae produced in Palermo testifies to an exchange connection between the city and the countryside [102].…”