Early Architecture on the Mediterranean Island of Pantelleria

Abstract

On the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, there are the remains of a Neolithic settlement that built a fortress city and monumental tombs on volcanic lava flow.Their mining of obsidian (volcanic glass) and its trade with Malta and Sicily endowed them with prestige and wealth visible in the majestic megalithic type tombs called sesi, constructed with rational planning and similar to those found on many Mediterranean islands (Malta, Crete, Sardinia, Corsica, Balearic Islands).The settlement subsisted on agriculture, livestock and obsidian mining. Work tools were mainly stone (knives, blades, scrapers, chisels, and axes), large millstones and obsidian sickles have been found along with many ceramic items of various sizes and shapes in large quantities as bowls, plates, cups, vases, jugs, jars in various shades of red. They possessed no ligands nor metal utensils.The sesi tombs situated outside the citadel numbered 58 in 1894 but only 27 remained in 2010. They are shaped as overturned boats on a shore, recalling the expert navigation of this 5,000 year old settlement and the other tombs found in the Balearics (navetas).On Pantelleria man seems to pass from the trilithic or dolmens system to dry arrangements of stone blocks. It is likely that Pantelleria was the starting point or one of the first stages of megalithic civilization, which led to other examples with the same characteristics in Sardinia, Mycenae, Crete, Malta, and the Balearics.

More archaeologic research is needed to bring to light this civilization’s accomplishments and we urge the authorities to support this further research and to preserve the remains..

Keywords: mediterranean island, early architecture.