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ROCKY LANDSCAPE IN CENTRAL SICILY (ITALY) KNOWLEDGE, CONSERVATION, AND ENHANCEMENT
Abstract
The rocky landscapes of central Sicily show a long-standing tradition of using carved spaces for funerary, residential, productive and religious purposes. This study presents the initial results of a multidisciplinary study of a key area in north-eastern central Sicily, where rock-cut habitats meet major historical routes. The research explores settlement dynamics, Byzantine and Greek influences, Italo-Greek monasticism, and Norman reorganization. It examines rock-cut churches and frontier landscapes, as well as the methodological challenges of studying negative architecture and the use of ICT tools. Recreating the history of these places is significant for more than just archaeology. Safeguarding rock-cut heritage requires an understanding of its formation and urges us to reactivate traces and memories to rethink rupestrian landscapes today. This approach is inclusive and comprehensive, moving beyond traditional interdisciplinarity. This open and dynamic understanding of cultural heritage, aligned with the Faro Convention principles, promotes shared values and broad public engagement. It recognises cultural and natural heritage as equally important parts of the landscape, making public archaeology a resource for community development and bottom-up participation.
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References18
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