The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Akrai/Acrae, Sicily

This multiple authors volume, edited by Roksana Chowaniec and Marta Fitula, describes the results of interdisciplinary archaeological research and excavations conducted between 2009 and 2020 within the zone of the residential area of the Graeco-Roman town Akrai/Acrae and its vicinity. The town, situated in the central part of south-eastern Sicily, happens to be a significant place on the archaeological map of the island and the whole Mediterranean. The recent studies (2009–2020) unearthed the households, whose original basic plans were created by the end of the 3rd century BC. The construction effort seems to have taken place during the final phase of rule of the Syracusan tyrant, Hiero II and/or at the beginning of the formal Roman administration (after 212 BC). The new stage of excavations (2011–2017) yielded archaeological material dated from the end of 3rd century BC up to the beginning of 8th century AD, which provides a vivid picture of the inhabitants’ life. Also the field survey and non invasive investigations brought information about vicinity of town. The book consists of seventeenth chapters covering history of south-eastern Sicily, mostly in the Roman Imperial period and Late Antiquity, various examples of elaboration of material culture, and multidisciplinary studies outlining the methodology of research. This volume is focused around historical and archaeological artefacts being a determinant of all cultural processes which occurred in Antiquity.