Longane

This is an important Sicel site, which flourished in the archaic period and perhaps disappeared in the 5th century BC; this would explain the lack of any historical records of the site. Discovered thanks to the field work of the honorary inspector D. Ryolo, it was investigated by Bernaḅ Brea through extensive excavations, directed by G.F. Carrettoni. The settlement itself was not fortified, in contrast to its two acropolises. Of that to the South, the remains of a fortress built in the megalithic technique survive. The acropolis to the North (on Monte Ciappa 442 m) is more extensive; it is surrounded by a drystone agger (rampart) from which square towers or gateway-towers projected; at least their corners were constructed in ashlared blocks. A Bronze Age settlement existed on the site of the city, while a cemetery of artificial rock-cut tombs dating to the Iron Age (8th to 7th century BC) extended in the area of Rod́, on the opposite side of the valley.

Bibliography:

  • D. Ryolo Di Maria, Il Longano e la sua battaglia, in Archivio Storico Siciliano, Palermo 1950.
  • L. Bernabò Brea, La necropoli di Longane, in Bullettino di Paletnologia Italiana, N.S. XVIII, vol.76, 1967, pp.181-254
  • L. Bernabò Brea, Longane, (con appendice di G.F.Carrettoni), in Quaderni di Archeologia, Università di Messina I,1,2000, pp. 7-57.

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