Photo: Clemensfranz · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Area archeologica e Antiquarium di Sabucina

Archaeological area and antiquarium on a hill near Caltanissetta, with a settlement from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period; currently closed for works.

Temporarily closedFree admission

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Temporarily closed. The area is temporarily closed for maintenance and safety works.

About the museum

Mount Sabucina, at about 720 metres above sea level on the right bank of the River Salso (the ancient Himera), lies a few kilometres north-east of Caltanissetta. Together with Capodarso it controls the narrowing of the valley that formed a gateway into the interior of Sicily. The site was inhabited from the Early Bronze Age (villages of the Castelluccio culture) to the Hellenistic period.

In the Late Bronze Age an extensive village of huts occupied the slopes; between the 8th and 7th century BC rectangular houses and cult areas appeared. In the 6th century BC Greek settlers from Gela Hellenised the settlement, building a city wall and new houses. In the mid-5th century BC the centre was destroyed during the Sicel revolt of Ducezio and was rebuilt with walls and towers at the end of the 4th century BC. After 310 BC it was abandoned, and in the Roman imperial age farms and villas developed on the plain below.

Research begun in the 1960s by Piero Orlandini has brought to light the village of huts, a sacred area with the famous terracotta shrine of the 6th century BC, and rock-cut tombs at the foot of the mountain. The site is managed by the Parco archeologico di Gela and has an antiquarium.

Highlights

Village of huts from the Late Bronze Age
City wall of the 6th century BC, reinforced with towers
Sacred area with a terracotta model of a small temple (Sabucina shrine)
Rock-cut tombs at the foot of the mountain
Antiquarium with finds from the excavations

Operated by: Parco archeologico di Gela