Recovering the Hidden Landscape of Copper Age Sicily

Abstract

The Late Copper Age/Early Bronze Age transition has traditionally been seen as an enigma in Sicilian prehistory. The relatively incomplete nature of the archaeological record has been interpreted as a marker of societal contraction, population movement and increased dependence on pastoralism. It has become increasingly apparent that the preservation and recovery of these archaeological sites have played a highly significant role in the way that site distributions have been understood. Recently, archaeological survey projects have recovered further evidence of sites. This has begun to reveal a more complex history of settlement and landscape occupation, which can be used to question some of this period’s standard interpretations. The work of the Troina Survey in the Nebrodi Mountains of Sicily has revealed new evidence for Late Copper Age occupation in a variety of topographic locations. Crucially the integration of geoarchaeological investigations within this project has identified significant connections between the depositional and post-depositional processes, and their impact on the preservation of the archaeological record, which are particularly pertinent for our understanding not only of this time period but also of our narratives on Sicilian prehistory. This study emphasizes the fundamental importance of undertaking long-term landscape reconstruction in order to interpret regional settlement patterns.