The metal finds from the American excavations in Morgantina (Enna province, Sicily)

While some types of material from Morgantina have already been extensively studied and published, the collection of metal small finds, comprising some 2,500 objects, has remained largely unnoticed, although it represents one of the largest and most important find complexes of this kind in the Mediterranean region. Its scientific analysis will not only provide important insights into various functional areas and the structure of the city (residential areas, public areas [agora, baths], sanctuaries), but will also significantly expand our hitherto insufficient knowledge of metal small finds from the Republican period in the Italic-Sicilian area. The results are not only relevant for the Mediterranean region, but also for Central and Western Europe. Of particular interest is the numerous occurrence of “Celtic” Latène fibulae of the 3rd to 1st century BC in Morgantina (fibulae of the Middle Latène type, fibulae of the form Almgren 65, Jezerine fibulae, etc.). These fibulae of types fibula to Sicily raise fundamental questions about the ethnic composition and identity of the city’s inhabitants as well as the presence of foreign individuals (perhaps military?). In addition, the metal finds from Morgantina promise important clues for the absolute chronology of the Late Latène Period. Thus, this find assemblage is not only of key importance for Mediterranean archaeology, but also for the study of the developed and late Latène period in central and western Europe.