Thermae Himeraeae (Sicilia) e il suo hinterland: dalla documentazione ceramica alle dinamiche del popolamento in età imperiale

Abstract

This paper presents the archaeological and archaeometric results about roman amphorae, coarse/cooking wares and TSA from Termini Imerese (NW Sicily), and the relationships with distribution of same pottery in the hinterland of ancient city, where in the last thirty years the Dept. of Cultural Heritage of University of Palermo have carried out extensive surveys (San Leonardo, Torto and Northern Imera valleys). The research starts up typological and archaeometric studies published in the nineties of last century, now part of a new interdisciplinary program with CNR-IBAM (Catania) and CNRS (Aix-en-Provence). A good documentation of African amphorae, coarse/cooking wares, produced both in Byzacena and Zeugitana, and also local amphorae and coarse/cooking wares and Pantellerian ware, have been found both a Thermae and in the hinterland, together with African red slip ware and lamps. The aims are to give full – as far as possible – details about the regional/local productions, and about the North-African pottery supply areas to North-West Sicily, and to express hypothesis about pottery trade systems in North-Western Sicily and local distribution founded on landing-places and routes. First results about pottery finds show the role of Thermae Himeraeae on the route from North Africa to Rome, and the close relationships with the North-Eastern Sicily, where there were typical late amphorae and coarse wares.