Le paysage rural de la Sicile méridionale au v e siècle après J.-C. : le cas de Cignana

Agrigento's rural landscape underwent significant transformation during the 5th century AD, marked by the rise and expansion of settlements on previously abandoned sites. The villa at Cignana, near Agrigento, exemplifies this change: simple structures replaced a luxurious dwelling from the mid-3rd century CE, covering a much larger area. Archaeological excavations in 2006 revealed pottery predominantly from Vandal Africa, indicating strong ties with north-eastern Tunisia and suggesting socio-economic or political shifts that fostered rural settlement growth. Similar ceramic assemblages found in nearby sites reinforce this pattern, pointing to widespread changes across southern Sicily's countryside.

Ducati, F. (2023). Le paysage rural de la Sicile méridionale au v^e siècle après J.-C. : le cas de Cignana. Antiquité Tardive, 31, 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.at.5.136174