Exploring the Unearthed Architecture of Sicily’s Valley of the Temples
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Archaeologists working at Sicily’s Valley of the Temples, a Unesco World Heritage site in Agrigento, Italy, have uncovered the remains of a previously unknown building. Although its function remains unclear, the structure may have been connected to religious life in the ancient city of Akragas, founded by Greek settlers in the sixth century BC.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of discovering a hitherto unknown monument in a crucial part of the city, possibly related to the nearby sanctuary,” says Sebastiano Imposa, an associate professor of applied geophysics at the University of Catania. “This could give us a better understanding of the city’s religious topography and help us determine the different phases of construction that took place in this area.”
The Valley of the Temples, one of Sicily’s most important archaeological sites, was never fully excavated. The team discovered the building after exploring a 3,000 sq. m area using geophysical survey techniques. These enabled them to peer beneath the soil and create a map of potential underground remains, referred to as anomalies.
To investigate further, the team conducted a test excavation on the spot where one of the anomalies lay hidden and discovered a wall constructed from large stone blocks, seemingly part of a larger structure. The building’s function and date remain uncertain, with further excavation planned for April to provide more answers.
The Valley of the Temples was founded as a Greek colony in around 580BC and later flourished under Roman rule. Today, Agrigento is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved temples, with its archaeological area inscribed on Unesco’s World Heritage list since 1997.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.