Metal Finds from the Votive Deposits of the Archaic Sanctuary of Bitalemi, Sicily: Typological and Quantitative Remarks

The bronze fragments from the archaic votive deposits of the sanctuary of Demetra Thesmophoros at Bitalemi (Gela, Sicily), partially published by P. Orlandini immediately after their discovery, are now the object of an exhaustive cataloguing and study for the complete edition of the old excavations. The analysis and study of comparisons has made it possible to bet-ter understand the practice of dedicating bronze fragments in this sanctuary, the different commercial routes touching the coasts of the Sicily during the Archaic period, and the meaning of offerings that are simply scrap metal. Key words: Bitalemi, Archaic deposits, Metal votive offerings, Scrap metal, Archaic commercial routes