Other Research Projects

Ongoing projects

Creation of the GIS LuxOrientis (2023-2028)

This network and study project has been developed over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year by three teacher-researchers (historian, art historian, civilizationist), and two CNRS researchers (sociologist and anthropologist) working on tangible and intangible heritage, and on the Orient in the broadest sense (Islamic, Asian and Far Eastern worlds). It brings together the Universities of Orléans, Poitiers and Bordeaux, the UMR CEIAS (EHESS) and the Musée du Louvre (Islamic Arts Department). The project focuses on the study of one concept via tangible, intangible and luxury heritage, from medieval to contemporary times. In particular, it aims to examine Western imaginations of Eastern worlds as conveyed in the culture of luxury since ancient times, the phenomenon of chinoiserie, which originated during the Han period, being a perfect illustration.

All partners would like to create a research network that would enable regular events on the theme, and host the creation of a thesis grant dedicated to the study of luxury and a post-doctoral contract, all of which could be hosted by the main sponsor at the University of Orléans if it agreed to contribute regular support to the GIS. Foundations have been contacted.

Mount Altesina and its territory (2024-2028)

The archaeological site of Mount Altesina (province of Enna, Sicily) is located on the highest mountain in central Sicily (1192 m). The site's traces of occupation range from prehistoric to modern times, revealing a long period of human occupation. Among the ten hectares of archaeological evidence are numerous Bronze Age tombs, a large Greco-Indigenous proto-urban settlement between the two main peaks (occupied from the late 6th to early 3rd centuries BC) reused in the Byzantine, proto-Islamic and early medieval periods in the summit area, a monastic settlement dating from the late medieval to early modern period, and a 16th-17th century fortified “masseria” (farmhouse) built on pre-existing structures. Furthermore, Altesina has always been a magnet for agro-pastoral activities, right up to the present day, given its abundant water sources.

Archaeological research on the site, carried out by the Superintendencies of Cultural Heritage of Agrigento (1986-1988) and Enna (1992, 2007), has been limited to certain areas on the summit of the mountain. Nevertheless, archaeological finds, including fragments of terracotta statues of excellent workmanship, as well as oscilla and louteria, have revealed the presence of one or more cult areas in addition to a residential and defensive function.

But it is certainly the presence of an Arabic epigraph in situ, carved into a rock face at the top of the site and datable by paleography to the mid-9th century, that constitutes one of the most important archaeological features of this site that places the Altesina settlement in the context of the Islamic conquest of Sicily. Indeed, Ibn ʿIdhārı̄'s historical source Kitāb al-Bayān mentions that during the siege of the Byzantine fortress of Enna and its territory (in 241/855-6), the conqueror ʿAbbās ibn al-Faḍl established his army on an “inconquerable” mountain. Therefore, given the description and topography of the places around Enna, the archaeological data from this period (the Arabic epigraph and surface archaeological material) and the correspondence with the historical data reported by Ibn ʿIdhārı̄, it is likely that Mount Altesina was the “unconquerable” mountain where the Muslim army would have settled. The site also assumed fundamental importance in later centuries. Indeed, the administrative and geographical subdivision of the island into three “valli” (from the Arabic wilayat), of which Mount Altesina was the center, is traditionally attributed to the Islamic period. This historical fact seems to be confirmed by the presence of post-Islamic archaeological material. Finally, historical sources include Mount Altesina and its territory in the list of baronies present in this region of Sicily from the Swabian period onwards.

The project’s members

The members of the research project form a strong cross-disciplinary team that has already been praised during the project’s exploratory phase.
Managers: Carla Mancuso (Soprintendenza BBCCAA Enna) ; Anna Caiozzo (POLEN, University of Orléans) ; Giuseppe Labisi (POLEN, University of Orléans).
Participating members:
Doctoral students: Clémence Piquet-Delabrousse (POLEN, University of Orléans) ; Jade Clerc-Dejour (POLEN, University of Orléans) ; Aida Alavi (Ausonius, Bordeaux-Montaigne University)
Archaeologists: Rodolfo Brancato (ancient topography, University « Federico II », Naples); Serena Raffiotta (independent Hellenistic archaeologist).
Archeometrist: Simona Raneri (CNR Pisa).
Geologists: Vito Trecarichi (independant); Maurizio Bombace (LabGIS Sicilian region).
Anthopologist: Gioele Zisa (La Sapienza University, Rome - University of Palermo).

Past projects

The exploratory project (2020-2023)

The first phase of archaeological research on Mount Altesina was certainly exploratory in nature. Indeed, following the three-year research agreement signed between the Superintendency of Enna, UMR Ausonius (Bordeaux-Montaigne University) and the Municipality of Nicosia in September 2020, archaeological activities were severely limited by the pandemic situation, but also by the lack of funding. Nevertheless, the research team coordinated by Anna Caiozzo (POLEN, University of Orléans), Giuseppe Labisi (POLEN, University of Orléans and Ausonius, Bordeaux-Montaigne University) and Carla Mancuso (director responsible for the archaeological section of the Superintendency of Enna) has achieved significant results. Indeed, during the period when it was possible to carry out fieldwork, the extent of the Greco-Indigenous proto-city was identified and dated archaeological material was collected, confirming the dating of one of the site's occupation phases between the late 6th and early 3rd centuries BC. Numerous Bronze Age tombs (some sixty to date) have also been located between the summit and lower parts of the site. Thanks to surface archaeological surveys, it was also possible to identify phases of occupation relating to the Byzantine, Late Byzantine/Proto-Islamic and Norman-Swabian periods. The drone topographic surveys provided a high-resolution digital terrain model and documented in detail all the archaeological evidence identified to date, with the creation of files for each archaeological and architectural feature present on the site, including the structures of the aforementioned monastery. In addition, all water sources within the archaeological zone and in its immediate vicinity were surveyed, georeferenced and documented. Finally, preliminary geological and anthropological studies were begun.