Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2015
Roman Sicily has long been known from classicalsources for its agricultural fertility, but littlearchaeological research has been conducted onthe rural economy. The Campanaio project isuncovering a wealth of information about a small(3 ha) hellenistic and Roman rural settlement andits economy, 25 km west of Agrigento. Excavations(1994-95,1997-98) have revealed seven principalphases. Activity started c. 200 BC, and wasintensive for two centuries in the central part ofthe site. A complex of buildings underwent twocomplete reconstructions between 200 BC and AD25; in its last phase (c. 50 BC) it comprised an Lshapedbuilding some 17 m long and 8.40 m wide,with dry-stone walls, earth floors and mud-bricksuperstructure (FIGUR1E