5.1. Location and characteristics.
The area identified as "Marcanzotta"507 comprises a group of agricultural fields in the area of Marcanza Grande (Fig. 23). This is a region of gentle topography and, in general, low relief, through which flows the Fiume della Marcanzotta.508 The river lies a mere 1.5 km to the south of the area surveyed by MHS, which is located in the northeastern corner of the MHS survey universe. As such, Marcanzotta constitutes the easternmost of the three sites comprising the "stratified sample" explored in 2008.509It lies some 7.5 km to the east of San Leonardo and a little more than 5 km from the nearer site of Borso. The closest of the areas surveyed by MHS, however, is Casa Abbadessa, which is located some 3 km to the southwest. Marcanzotta is equally isolated with respect to modern patterns of settlement. Excepting a handful of scattered farmhouses like the one which, at less than half a
Fig. 23: Marcanzotta location.
507. In apparent reference to the nearest toponym appearing on theCdI, which is Marcanzotta. The identification is erroneous, however. The area of Marcanzotta, as is clear from the CTR, actually lies some 2.5 km NW along SP35.
508. In the immediate vicinity of the area surveyed by MHS, the elevation varies between 34–66 m asl. Attested slopes are in the range of 0º–9º, but are on average pretty flat; the mean slope is a mere 1.79º. 509. On which see Section 1.2.
kilometer to the south, constitutes the nearest point of human habitation, the region is practically unoccupied.510
As in most of the areas explored by MHS, the land is uniformly given over to cultivation. All of the fields surveyed by project participants, as indeed virtually all the fields in the vicinity, are planted with wine grapes.511
5.2. Survey.
MHS activity in the area of Marcanzotta was limited to two days (July 21–22) during the 2008 field season. During that time, project participants surveyed some 7.5 Ha.512 This expanse comprised 28 Discovery Units, numbered 1070–1089, which flank an earthen access road running NE–SW through the center of the surveyed area. DUs 1070–1079, which constitute a series of rectangular units lying to the south of the road, are oriented parallel to it. DUs 1080–1089, meanwhile, occupy an area lying on the northern side of the road. In keeping with the direction of plowing there, they are oriented N–S.
Of the sherds recovered during survey, virtually none belong to the period of interest to this thesis. Only 9 such fragments were catalogued, and the majority of these (=5 sherds) cannot be any more specifically dated.
5.3. Summary of findings.
In light of these results, it is difficult to posit any very significant Roman- period activity in the area of Marcanzotta. Such, in any event, was the conclusion reached in respect of the findings from Borso, where a similar scarcity of Roman-era ceramics was documented, and there is little reason to expect that the present case should be very different.513 On the contrary, the ceramics recovered at Marcanzotta are at several points comparable to those from Borso. This is true as regards the
510. The nearest population center is the frazione of Rattaloro, which lies more than 4 km distant. 511. The only nearby exception are the several fields encircling to the aforementioned farmhouse to the south. Several are planted with olive trees, and others, with garden crops.
512. Per the figures given the directors, if not according to the project GIS: the total expanse of the surveyed area, following rectification of the polygons, is some 8.7 Ha.
513. The ceramic record is, perhaps, not quite so barren as at Borso; among the 4 dateable Roman finds recovered at Marcanzotta is a fragment of a fourth century Keay 25.1 amphora (MA3000). Nevertheless, the quantities involved are such that any perceived difference may be an accident of recovery, rather than an accurate reflection of the area's sherd population (in statistical terms).
relative frequency of
sensu lato Medieval
finds, which were
found in virtually
every one of the units
explored at
Marcanzotta. Human activity in the region, in other words, is not
a strictly modern
phenomenon; but for most of the phases of interest to this thesis, it does not appear to
have been very
significant, either.
Fig. 24: Marcanzotta survey units.
6.Piscitello.
6.1. Location and characteristics.
The survey area identified by MHS as "Piscitello" comprises a group of contiguous fields, all of them planted with olive trees, which are located immediately to the south of a village of the same name514(Fig. 25). Of the other areas surveyed by MHS, only San Leonardo, from which it is 2 km distant, lies further to the northwest. The site of Piscitello is situated a little more than 2 km east of the Mozia ferry landing and c. 1.75 km south of the northern boundary of the MHS survey universe. Like most of the surrounding area, it is characterized by its low and gentle topography.
514. I.e., Piscitello, which is defined, in administrative terms, as a frazione of the comune of Marsala. (Marsala itself lies some 5.07 km to the southwest). Further use of "Piscitello", in this and subsequent sections, should be understood as referring to the survey area as defined by MHS, rather the settlement for which it was named.
Fig. 25: Piscitello location.
Notwithstanding the fact of a gentle westward slope, the c. 2.25 Ha explored by MHS showed little variation in elevation.
6.2. Survey.
Piscitello was designated as an area of possible interest during the 2009 field season, in part on the basis of locals' testimony to the frequency of Roman ceramic
remains in the area.
Preliminary exploration
of the area, which was undertaken during the
course of extensive
survey, confirmed that
such materials were
indeed atypically dense. The formal exploration of Piscitello, which lasted two days, began shortly thereafter. During that time, a total of 15 DUs
were subjected to
intensive survey and
collection. Of these fifteen
units, which were