Dinamiche insediative, cultura materiale e scambi in Sicilia tra Tardoantico e Altomedioevo. Il caso del sito di Santa Caterina (Melilli, SR)

During the last two decades there have been a growing number of research projects involving the landscape of Sicily in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages which have made it possible to identify occurrences which had a major impact. Research conducted in the area around Megara, north of Syracuse, was aimed at determining if these occurrences were accompanied by changes in the material culture, in production methods and in trade. The study concentrated in particular on the so-called "failed sites", that is, settlements which were established during times which were favourable to development and to the expansion of the network of towns, but which were abandoned soon afterwards. The site of Santa Caterina, in fact, belongs to this category. This research made it possible to study the transformations of material culture and trade from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages, particularly during the periods of crisis which occurred in the 5 and at the end of the 6 -7 centuries AD.