L'architettura

The hut 1 of Calicantone: preliminary report on the 2012-2015 excavations - Calicantone is an archaeological area belonging to the Parco Archeologico di Cava d'Ispica, a 13 km long canyon extending from the territory of Modica (RG) to that of Ispica (SR) in South-Eastern Sicily. The Archaeological Service of Ragusa/Parco Archeologico di Cava d'Ispica and the University of Catania undertook in 2012-2015 a research project which brought to a better knowledge of the local necropolis of rock-cut chamber tombs, to the identification of the village area unfortunately in a now built area), and to the discovery of a Bronze Age hut, located between the village and the necropolis. In this article the preliminary report of the excavation of the hut is presented. Three subsequent phases have been discovered: an occupation identified thanks to pole-posts (phase 1), the construction of a smaller biapsidal building (phase 2) and the final hut (phase 3). In this final phase the hut was 12,5x4,5 meter, had an elongated biapsidal plan, oriented N-S, with the entrance located in the eastern wall.The inner space was divided into two sections, differentiated by the floor level, higher in the northern part due to a step in the rock, and an artificially made, protruding platform. Only few findings were found in the southern sector (two high pedestal bowls, one clay "andiron" and a group of spindle-whorls). Here a shallow basin, lined with plaster, was dug in the floor. Parallel to the short side of the basin, the skeleton of a 10-14 years old individual has been found. This southern sector was probably used for ritual or working activities. A huge quantity of vases was instead found in the northern sector, which was probably a storage area: pithoi, dolia, drinking and pouring vases,high pedestal bowls, together with clay horns, miniature axes, small idols (?) and a necklace. Among the vases, the skeletons of at 3-4 individuals in different postures have been found, mainly concentrated (with the exception of two) in the northern apsis. Two more individuals laid along the western wall, and a further one half inside and half outside a pithos along the eastern wall. The disposal of the corpses and their position suggest that a sudden and violent event brought to the destruction of the hut. Some final consideration will be made about the communal (and funerary?) function of the hut and the historical significance of this war event.