Prehistoric site

The state archaeological site can be reached by following the road signs for the Castle, continuing along the Via del Capo and then turning right on the Cypress Avenue leading to the Monumental Cemetery. The area explored (1995-1996; 2003-2005) corresponds to a small portion of the terrace cultivated with olive trees.
The main entrance faces directly on the open space in front of the cemetery, where it is recommended to park the car.

There are five huts, all different in terms of plan, size and state of conservation, of which only three (huts 1-3), fully explored, are usable. Among them stands out the hut 1, the one further upstream, partially recessed in the slope, with stone wall well built, provided on the downstream side of a large entrance with impressive steps.

An internal pedestrian path leads to a first stop equipped with two educational panels, which provide the general coordinates on the presences of prehistoric and protohistorical period identified in the urban area of Milazzo, The excavation carried out at the site and the phases for which certification is required.
Continuing you reach the sector explored, protected by a laminated wood and polycarbonate roof functional to the conservation of the masonry, plans of use and small substructures (foci) brought to light. Under the roof, in correspondence with the second stop, two other educational panels illustrate in detail the visible remains dating back to the ancient bronze age (facies Capo Graziano, XVIII century BC). 

The building, with elongated oval plan, originally covered by a roof in perishable material with two flaps in the central part and with curved section above the apses, is divided into two rooms thanks to a wall – tramezzo that isolates the apse from the main room, particularly wide, with a large lobed-shaped fireplace. Within this environment the excavation has allowed to recover a part of the pottery that was part of the domestic equipment (n. 101 finds).
The building, in terms of size and construction characteristics, is a unique parallel to the large delta IV hut on the Acropolis of Lipari.

The visit ends by going down to the level of hut 3 and then leaving the pedestrian gate. Just downstream are the remains of hut 2, with irregular oval plant, in poor state of conservation.
The hut 3, with irregular oval shape, with an almost straight side, in good condition, is delimited by a well-built wall with medium stones – large in the outer curtains and small in the inner filling and communicated with the outside thanks to an entrance located along the west side. Internally the small house was equipped with a large hearth of oval shape in concotto used in all phases of life of the structure.
In general, also considering the peculiar location of the excavation area, it has been speculated that the huts brought to light constitute the last branch of a larger village, whose greatest extension is to be found in the terraces of the eastern slope overlooking the Castle sloping towards the sea.
The structure of the building is quite dense, at least according to the structures explored. From the point of view of material culture, the study conducted on the finds found inside the huts allows to frame all the context within the Ancient Sicilian Bronze and the facies of Capo Graziano of the Aeolian Islands, This suggests a very close relationship between the village of Viale dei Cipressi and the Aeolian sites. 

Address

Prehistoric Site
Viale dei Cipressi, Milazzo (ME)