Wall illustrations from the "Grotte" di Caratabia (Mineo, Sicily)

"The "Grotte di Caratabia" are hidden jewels in Sicily's cultural landscape. The incised illustrations that run the length of the walls within these two, artificial, rock-cut chambers date most likely to the Archaic period, and they stand among the few examples of true art that can be ascribed to the island's indigenous, Sikel culture. Despite dedicated efforts to preserve their physical integrity, the fragility of the rock structure and the incessant forces of degradation, both by natural and human agency, make it unlikely that they will survive much longer as legible entities. Their complete documentation and interpretive publication, therefore, is an urgent necessity that this monograph seeks to fulfill. The documentation project began as a series of photographic campaigns starting in 2002 that were conducted by the author using both film and digital photographic equipment"--