Necropolis of Cassibile

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Necropolis of Cassibile - Wikipedia

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Necropolis of Cassibile
History
The necropolis seen from afar
Location	Avola, Noto
Region	Syracuse
Cultures	Sican, Sicels, Byzantine

The Necropolis of Cassibile is a large archaeological site in the Province of Syracuse, near the towns of Avola and Cassibile. The site contains a very large graves system situated inside several ravines; the largest of them is called "Cavagrande" (transl. "Large Ravine"). About 2,000 graves carved out of the rock have been found; they are dated from the 11th to the 9th century BC. This necropolis gives the name to a precise period of the Sicels' civilization.^[1]

Description

Avola comprises the nucleus of a large archaeological site, which borders the nature reserve of Riserva naturale orientata Cavagrande del Cassibile. Cavagrande is the largest canyon in the area. There are other caves to the north, which terminate near the village of Cassibile. The most archaeologically interesting, the Cava Sant'Anna, contains the entire Necropolis of Cassibile, the second largest tomb complexes of the Sicul civilization after the Necropolis of Pantalica.

In the necropolis, there are around 2,000 tombs in artificial caves, which date to between 800 and 1000 BC. The site has divulged numerous archaeological finds, like human remains and pottery. Most of these finds are kept in the Museo archeologico regionale Paolo Orsi. Other more isolated tomb complexes were made later. In the additions, archaeologists have hypothesized that there was a large Sicul settlement (often identified with an ancient city called Hybla) formed after the overpopulation of Pantalica around 1100 BC. Of that settlement only a small Greek Doric temple remains.

The finds at the site reflected the civilization's refinement, likely due to their contact with the Phoenicians and proximity to the sea. The necropolis was reused in the Byzantine era, and many of the tombs were put to other uses, like arcosoliums. The pyramidal hill in front of the necropolis, called the "Cugno Mola", has been identified as a fortification, which Thucydides mentions in his account of the Peloponnesian War. He describes a military fort established at the mouth of the river Cassibile by the Syracusans to watch over the fleeing Athenians. The Syracusans prevented the Athenians from entering the valley, where they sought refuge from the Sicels, who were evidently allied with the Syracusans.

Gallery

References

^ "Le tombe di Cassibile". Archived from the original on 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2015-02-11.

External links

La Necropoli di Cassibile (video)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Necropolis of Cassibile.

v t e Archaeological sites in Sicily
Province of Agrigento	Heraclea Minoa Akragas Valle dei Templi - Temple of Concordia - Temple of Heracles - Temple of Juno - Temple of Olympian Zeus
Province of Caltanissetta	Gela Bosco Littorio Greek baths of Gela Gibil Gabib Monte Bubbonia Polizzello archaeological site Sabucina Vassallaggi
Province of Catania	Aetna (city) Katáne Palike Sant'Ippolito (Caltagirone)
Province of Enna	Centuripe Morgantina Villa Romana del Casale
Province of Messina	Abacaenum Halaesa Naxos Ancient theatre of Taormina Tindari Villa Romana di Patti
Province of Palermo	Entella Grotta dell'Addaura Hippana Ietas Himera Pirama Soluntum
Province of Ragusa	Akrillai Hybla Heraea Kamarina Kaukana
Province of Syracuse	Akrai Santoni Casmenae Cava del Rivettazzo Colonne di San Basilio Helorus Netum Megara Hyblaea Syrakousai Roman amphitheatre of Syracuse Altar of Hieron Ear of Dionysius Galermi Aqueduct Greek Theatre of Syracuse Grotta del Ninfeo Temple of Athena Temple of Apollo Necropolis of Cassibile Necropolis of Pantalica Thapsos Villa Romana del Tellaro
Province of Trapani	Eryx/Erice Drepanum Halyciae Grotta del Genovese Monte Polizzo Motya Segesta Selinunte Temple C Temple E Temple F Cave di Cusa Roman furnaces in Alcamo

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