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The aim of this paper is to shed light on the interpretation of human remains and funerary rituals recently uncovered in the Archaic Necropolis of Motya. During the 20th century about 350 graves were brought to light by earlier explorations, showing that – apart from rare exceptions – adult cremation was the most common rite performed in archaic times (ca. 730-550 BC). This picture can be now changed in the light of the results of our recent fieldwork (seasons 2013-2017), showing that a large quantity of graves strikingly house remains of sub-adult individuals (i.e. foetuses, perinatals and children). While a few of them are cremated, the numerous inhumations recovered show clear patterns of short-life expectancy and precarious health conditions on the island, as frequently highlighted by an early age of death as well as by deficiency pathologies and their effects on human bones. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar nuevos datos sobre la interpretación de los rituales funerarios recientemente descubiertos en la Necrópolis Arcaica de Motya. Las primeras exploraciones realizadas durante el siglo XX sacaron a la luz en torno a 350 tumbas que demostraron que, salvo raras excepciones, la cremación de adultos era el rito más común en tiempos arcaicos (ca. 730-550 a. C.). Los resultados de nuestro reciente trabajo de campo (temporadas 2013-2017), muestran sorprendentemente que una gran cantidad de tumbas son restos de individuos subadultos (perinatales e infantiles). A pesar de que en algunas de las tumbas se encontraron restos de cremaciones, la mayoría de las tumbas excavadas pertenecían a enterramientos que muestran claramente una esperanza de vida corta y unas condiciones de salud precarias en la isla frecuentemente materializado en muertes a edad temprana, así como por los problemas patológicos y sus efectos en los huesos humanos.

L'articolo illustra lo stato attuale e le strategie delle discipline archeologiche e delle ricerche presso l'Università di Palermo. The paper illustrates the current state and the strategies of the archaeological disciplines and researches in the University of Palermo.

The aim of this paper is to examine the fresh evidences retrieved in the early cemetery or "archaic necropolis" of the island of Motya, one of the main Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean.

In June 2013 the University of Palermo excavations on Motya were resumed. The main goal of the new project is to investigate the north-east quarter of the Phoenician settlement and its urban development since the time of its foundation. Two main areas of excavation were opened. In the early cemetery sixteen cremation burials of the archaic period were uncovered. The most striking discoveries, never attested before, were a tomb containing Hellenistic offerings, and the occurrence of archaic infant cremations. The second excavation was conducted east of Zone K in Building J, which is characterized by its use of a fine ‘pier and rubble’ construction technique. Two rooms have been partially cleared: one with a pillared doorway and a plastered mud-brick bench, the other containing a stone vat in the centre. A thick destruction layer, containing among other things bronze arrow-heads, is clear evidence of the siege and fall of Motya in 397 BC.

This volume presents the long history of Syria through a jouney of the most important and recently-excavated archaeological sites. The sites cover over 1.8 million years and all regions in Syria; 110 academics have contributed information on 103 excavations for this volume. Based on these contributions the volume offers a detailed summary of the history of Syria, a history as important as any in terms of the development of human society. It is hoped that this knowledge will offer not only an increased understanding of the country but also act as a deterrent to the destruction of Syrian cultural heritage and facilitate the protection of Syrian sites.