Selinunte, Sicily—A team of archaeologists has excavated portions of the long-lost walls and north gate of Selinunte, an influential Greek city in southwestern Sicily.
The excavations offer fresh insights into the city’s strategic and cultural importance in the Mediterranean.
Unveiled on March 25 at Baglio Florio in Selinunte, these finds underscore the city’s storied past.
In its prime during the late 5th century BC, Selinunte was home to at least 26,000 people. Its reach extended from Mazara to Monte Adranone and Sciacca, sustaining a regional population 90,000. The dig revealed traces of 5,000 plundered tombs in three necropolises. The north gate, a newly unearthed entryway, stood defenseless without natural barriers like rivers or the sea, making it a weak point. Historian Diodorus Siculus recounts how Carthaginians targeted this flaw, laying siege for ten days and claiming 16,000 lives.
The Parco Archeologico di Selinunte, Cave di Cusa e Pantelleria displayed the discoveries through aerial and ground images. The discoveries debuted alongside a new park emblem—a silicon leaf from an Ancient coin. Sicily’s Cultural Heritage Assessor, Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, lauded the park’s self-financed mission to reclaim history and boost tourism.
Felice Crescente, the park’s director, credited German archaeologist Dieter Mertens’ 1990s hypothesis of an expansive wall network, now validated. Mertens, who spotted telltale signs years ago, welcomed the breakthrough. The imposing north gate, roughly three meters tall, likely channeled funeral processions to the necropolis, while evidence of nearby workshops points to a vibrant civic hub.
Cutting-edge 3D geoelectric tomography, outpacing traditional radar, will drive future digs. Led by Archeofficina’s young archaeologists under veteran Carlo Zoppi’s oversight, the project envisions a museum-like experience with virtual wall recreations, updated signage, and accessible pathways to enhance exploration of this vast historical treasure.