Lilybaeum. Basic urban layout.

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Martina Seifert
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 325530936

The harbor city of Lilybaeum on the western coast of Sicily was an important military base and bridgehead to North Africa during the Punic Wars for both Carthaginians and Romans. In Roman times, it also appeared to be a highly prosperous trading seaport. However, up until today the excavations can only partly record the archaeological remains. Well known are the fortifications and the Punic necropoleis nowadays belonging to the urban area of Marsala, as well as the decumanus maximus with some Late Antique graves and parts of the insulae buildings at the Archeological Park, including the so–called villa romana in Capo Boeo.Archeological research in the area called Zona mura and geophysical surveys recently brought to light Roman and Late Antique roads and some urban structures. Unfortunately, the archeological mapping of the whole area in order to extend analyses on the urban development and settlement pattern is not complete yet. The project therefore aims firstly to undertake a comprehensive mapping of all preserved findings visible above ground at the Archeological Park and in the city of Marsala by compiling digital and non-digital data by presenting it in a sustainable webGIS. Data from recent excavation trenches could help to clarify the stratigraphy and chronology with regard to different cityscapes. The evaluation of the existing aerial photographs in combination with the interpretation of the geophysical prospection data and the critical analysis of recent publication provide a comprehensive understanding of the urban development of Lilybaeum to revise secondly existing narratives about the different cityscapes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Italy
• Cooperation Partners: Enrico Caruso; Professor Dr. Mauro LoBrutto; Professorin Dr. Antonella Mandruzzato