Archaeological Area of Contrada Stretto

The archaeological site in the Stretto district lies around three kilometres east of urban Partanna. The presence of a number of ditches, dug in this area and dating back to Neolithic times, has given Partanna the name of “City of the Ditch Civilisation”. These in fact had two functions, as a water supply and as a religious site. Inside singular and collective tombs, ceramic debris, traces of fireplaces and even two spears associated with animal bones were found. Among the most interesting features is a tunnel dug out of the rock probably also used religiously. The pottery and the remains uncovered in the ditches and the tombs cover a chronological time span that goes from Neolithic to Ancient Bronze. The most ancient findings, datable to the sixth millennium BC, are those belonging to the facies of ceramic work.