Marsala: new excavation campaign between San Giovanni and Capo Boeo

The first excavation campaign of the project "From Lilibeo to Marsa: archaeology of urban landscapes between Byzantine, Islamic and Norman periods" is underway. Fieldwork began on 4 May 2026 and will continue until 12 June 2026, focusing on the area between the church of San Giovanni and Viale Isonzo within the Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo in Marsala (TP).

The investigations aim to fill gaps in the documentation of urban change from the late Byzantine period to the emergence of medieval Marsala, targeting deposits, structural remains and domestic contexts that can clarify the city's transformation.

Research objectives

• Document urban transformations between the late 7th and early 11th centuries.
• Examine deposits and structures related to the Casa della Venatio, known for its hunting-scene mosaic found in 1972.
• Resume and complete the excavation of a late-Roman domus with mosaic floors, partially explored in the 1970s.
• Provide data for conservation and potential public display of archaeological contexts.

Team and partnerships

The campaign is directed by Angelo Castrorao Barba, with scientific contributions from Filippo Pisciotta and Roberto Miccichè. A second intervention on the Casa della Venatio is coordinated by archaeologist Maria Grazia Griffo, with the participation of the Società Cooperativa ArcheOfficina. Research is conducted in collaboration with the Escuela de Estudios Árabes (CSIC, Granada).

Practical information

• Period: 4 May 2026 - 12 June 2026
• Location: Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo, area between the church of San Giovanni and Viale Isonzo, Marsala (TP), Italy
• Address: Viale Vittorio Veneto, 91025 Marsala TP, Italy
• Coordinates: 37.8032198, 12.4301772
• Partners: Parco Archeologico di Lilibeo, Escuela de Estudios Árabes (CSIC, Granada)

These investigations are key to understanding the transition from Lilybaeum to medieval Marsala and to enhancing the value of the Capo Boeo heritage. Check official park communications for public access updates and outreach initiatives.