late Roman necropolis in the district of S. Agata

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Archaeological excavations conducted in 1988 by the Superintendency of Palermo uncovered a late Roman necropolis in the Sant'Agata district. The site is located approximately 35 km south of Palermo, between Piana degli Albanesi to the west and the Marineo fortress to the east, a central location for connections between the northern and southern coasts of Sicily.

The limited historical information available suggests that the area may be identified with the station of Pirama, a stopping point along the internal road between Agrigentum and Panormus.

The excavation campaigns, directed by archaeologist Caterina Greco, allowed for the exploration of the extensive sub divo cemetery. Downstream from the necropolis, a settlement was also identified, documenting that the area was continuously inhabited from the Hellenistic period to the Middle Ages.

The tombs, rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, are carved into the soft marl-gypsum fault typical of the hill. On the short sides, the burials are lined with slabs fixed in place, while on the long sides, they are lined with low walls made of small slabs or square blocks, closed by a monolithic slab carved from the excavated rock. On top of this, a roughly rectangular "tumulus" was erected, consisting of a bed of large stones cemented with whitish mortar, up to 70 centimeters thick.

The funerary ritual is characterized by the presence of grave goods always placed inside the tomb at the level of the head and shoulders of the deceased. This arrangement of the grave goods reflects a custom also practiced in Christianity and widely documented in numerous sub divo cemeteries discovered between the 4th and 6th centuries in Sicily.

Typically, the grave goods consist of three or four objects: a glass beaker, a jug made of common ceramic or glass, and finally a lamp. These items are sometimes accompanied by other objects such as brooches, earrings, and bracelets.

A few kilometers from Piana degli Albanesi, you can visit the archaeological site of Monte Jato.

For more information on this site, visits, and events, click here and fill out the form.

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