Finds from the province of Caltanissetta

Vassallaggi represents one of the most important centers of the gradual “Hellenization” process of the territory behind the two largest poleis on the southern coast of Sicily, Gela and Akrágas, constituting an important commercial hub between the courses of the Platani and southern Imera rivers and, therefore, between the two shores of the Strait of Sicily and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The fortifications of the 6th century BC have been unearthed, together with a sanctuary dedicated to the chthonic deities and a residential area, as well as several areas used as necropolises in the Archaic and Classical periods.  In addition to artifacts from the sanctuary, such as a bust of a deity, and from the settlement, including the discovery of part of a clay doll, which must have been completed with movable limbs that have not been found, much of the exhibition is dedicated to the southern necropolis, characterized by burials in sarcophagi. However, there is also evidence of cremation and, for newborns, burial in enchytrismos, i.e., inside ceramic containers.

The materials found show complete adherence to Greek cultural heritage in the choice of vases to be included in the grave goods, which, especially in the second half of the 5th century BC, came almost exclusively from Hellenic factories. The male tombs are characterized by the presence of a krater and a knife, a strigil, and containers for ointments. female graves contain smaller vessels, especially lekythoi and oinochoai, together with ointment jars and objects related to body care and cosmetics (alabastra, pyxes, mirrors, small knives, and iron spatulas).