The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Akrai/Acrae, Sicily

This multiple authors volume, edited by Roksana Chowaniec and Marta Fitula, describes the results of interdisciplinary archaeological research and excavations conducted between 2009 and 2020 within the zone of the residential area of the Graeco-Roman town Akrai/Acrae and its vicinity. The town, situated in the central part of south-eastern Sicily, happens to be a significant place on the archaeological map of the island and the whole Mediterranean. The recent studies (2009-2020) unearthed the households, whose original basic plans were created by the end of the 3rd century BC. The construction effort seems to have taken place during the final phase of rule of the Syracusan tyrant, Hiero II and/or at the beginning of the formal Roman administration (after 212 BC). The new stage of excavations (2011-2017) yielded archaeological material dated from the end of 3rd century BC up to the beginning of 8th century AD, which provides a vivid picture of the inhabitants' life. Also the field survey and non invasive investigations brought information about vicinity of town. The book consists of seventeenth chapters covering history of south-eastern Sicily, mostly in the Roman Imperial period and Late Antiquity, various examples of elaboration of material culture, and multidisciplinary studies outlining the methodology of research. This volume is focused around historical and archaeological artefacts being a determinant of all cultural processes which occurred in Antiquity. Archaeology Cover 1 Title pages 2 Contents 6 Rosa Lanteri: Introduction to the Book ‘The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Akrai/Acrae, Sicily’ 8 Roksana Chowaniec & Marta Fituła: Foreword 12 Cristina Soraci: On the History of South-Eastern Sicily during the Early Roman Empire 16 Roksana Chowaniec: Sealing, Stamping, Protecting, Securing ... Lead-seals from Akrai/Acrae 28 Laurent Chrzanovski: Late Republican to 3rd Century AD Lamps Found at Acrae: an Amazing Diversity Partially Unveiling the Details of Long–distance Trade Routes and Confirming the Boom of Micro-regional Productions 68 Krzysztof Domżalski: Changes in the Fine Pottery Supply Pattern in South-Eastern Sicily during the Late Republican and Early Imperial Period as Reflected by Finds from the Recent Excavations in Akrai/Acrae 146 Marcin Matera: Transport Amphorae from Akrai/Acrae 156 Jerzy Oleksiak: Kitchen Ware from Akrai/Acrae 176 Jolanta Młynarczyk: Mortaria, lekanai, kraters? Large Open-form Vessels from Akrai/Acrae, Their Formal Typology, Chronology and Function 184 Weronika Stanik: Ceramic Building Materials from Akrai/Acrae: First Remarks on Roof Tiles with Stamps and Further Reflections 208 Marta Fituła & Aleksandra Konrad: Selected Terracotta Figurines from Akrai/Acrae 220 Paolo Mazzoleni, Claudio Finocchiaro,Simona Raneri, Grazia Spagnolo & Germana Barone: South-Eastern Sicily Ceramic Production: an Example of Multidisciplinary Study 244 Agostina Musumeci: A Greek Vase from the Countryside of Palazzolo Acreide 254 Ireneusz Jakubczyk: Repertoire of Brooches from Akrai/Acrae 262 Angela Maria Manenti: Preliminary Notes on Bronze Finds from Akrai: Clarifications and Anticipations 282 Ermelinda Storaci: Akrai: the Pair of pinakes 290 Paolo Daniele Scirpo: Preliminary Notes on the Caves in the District of ‘Pisciarello’ at Palazzolo Acreide (Syracuse) 296 Matilde Stella & Girolamo Fiorentino: Landscape and Landuse in Akrai/Acrae, from the Middle of 3rd Century BC to the 7th Century AD, by Archaeobotanical Analyses 304 Notes of Contributors 320 Classical Studies,Archaeology,Sicily/History,Antiquity,Hiero II,Akrai