Ricerc@Sapienza

We describe a combined geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical approach applied to the study of firing activities that have been carried out in a compound in the Central Sahara between the 3rd aand 1st century BC. The archaeological investigation has uncovered a mud-brick wall collapses, preserving an interesting sequence of living floors, whose micromorphological study is unique for the Central Sahara.

The site of Motya, also called Mozia or Mothia, is a small islet in the middle of the Mediterranean, found in the Marsala lagoon, along the western coast of Sicily. Due to its strategic and harboured position, as well as the presence of a fresh-water source, the site has
been constantly occupied since the 17th century BCE. Motya is best known for its PhoenicioPunic occupation, which started in the 8th century BCE and continued until the siege of Motya, in 397 BCE.

The archaeobotanical analyses carried out at the archaeological site of Motya (Sicily, Italy), a small island found in the Marsala Lagoon, in Western Sicily (Italy), are presented. Although the Phoenician-Punic period (late 8th century BC – 397 BC) represents the main occupational phase of the archaeological settlement, the island was occupied by indigenous populations since the 17th century BC and continued to be inhabited after the Siege of Motya (397/6 BC).