Estrazione e raffinazione dello zolfo e paesaggio nella Sicilia romana tra IV e VI d.C.

2016

Sulphur was important in several fields: military, tanning, wool’s disinfection and many other activities. Nevertheless, the largest quantity of sulphur was used in agriculture, particularly in viticulture as it was used to combat fungal diseases especially in wine production areas. Sicily, and in particular the area surrounding Agrigento, was the main site of sulphur extraction. This built strong relationships with Rome and other agricultural centres in the Mediterranean Sea. Very important among the historical sources and the archaeological evidence are the so called Tabulae sulphuris, concerning the sulphur exploitation at the Agrigento’s area. Recent finds and studies gave a new chronol…