Archaeologists have completed the 11th excavation season in the Greek-Roman Quarter of Akragas, the ancient Greek city now known as Agrigento in Sicily, uncovering mosaics and early Christian remains that reveal how the city changed over nearly eight centuries.
The site formed part of the ancient Greek city of Akragas (Greek: Ἀκράγας), one of the most important settlements of Magna Graecia, before becoming the Roman city of Agrigentum. This year’s excavation offers fresh insight into how the Greek-founded city evolved through Roman rule, Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.
The discoveries show how buildings were repeatedly modified and adapted as the city’s urban landscape and religious traditions changed over time.
A building that remained in use for centuries
Archaeologists concentrated their work on the fourth city block, located beside a large Roman bath complex. Excavations revealed a building that remained in continuous use for nearly 800 years, from the 3rd century BCE until at least the 5th century CE.
The structure’s long history became clear through a sequence of overlapping floors. The earliest known surface was made of yellow calcarenite stone.
It was later replaced by a Republican-era floor built with crushed terracotta mortar that still preserved traces of red pigment. During the building’s final phase, builders installed an impressive Late Antique mosaic decorated with colorful geometric designs.
The changing floor levels provide a rare record of how a single building was renovated and reused across several historical periods, reflecting the changing needs of one of Sicily’s most important ancient cities.
Discovery sheds light on early Christianity
Beyond the architectural remains, archaeologists uncovered evidence that could help explain the spread of Christianity in Sicily during the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.
Inside a rectangular basin, the team found coins, the remains of small animals believed to have been consumed during ritual meals, and several amphora stoppers. One stopper bears an engraved Christian monogram, making it one of the excavation’s most significant discoveries.
Researchers believe the finds point to a close relationship between the building and a nearby Christian place of worship. That early church had previously been identified inside one of the former cisterns of the Roman bath complex, providing further insight into how Christianity spread through the former Greek city as it entered the Late Roman period.
Research and conservation continue
Archaeologists are continuing to examine the recovered artifacts and archaeological contexts to build a more complete picture of the site’s history. At the same time, conservators have cleaned and stabilized the newly uncovered mosaic to ensure its long-term preservation.
The excavation was directed by Professor Giuseppe Lepore of the University of Bologna and Dr. Maria Serena Rizzo of the Agrigento Archaeological and Landscape Park. Conservation work was carried out throughout the excavation under the supervision of the park’s conservator, Dr. Marilanda Rizzo Pinna.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
