In the summer of 2022, an agreement was signed between the Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. of Palermo and the Centre for Late Antiqe and Early Medieval Studies of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences to promote new research on the Corleone territory and its surrounding areas in the municipalities of Monreale, Mezzojuso and Campofiorito. This research collaboration is part of the European project "IS_LANDAS Islamicate landscapes in southern Andalusia and western Sicily: patterns of change in settlements and rural communities between Late Antiquity and the Islamic age" directed by Dr. Angelo Castrorao Barba and funded by the PASIFIC programme of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

This territory represents an extraordinary case study for connecting the stratigraphic sequence of a site with the long-term dynamics of rural settlement. In particular, the project intends to focus on the specific theme of settlement patterns in the territory between the Roman and Islamic periods in order to relate this rural district of the Sicani Mountains within a broader historical-archaeological-settlement framework for a comparative view with other areas of Sicily and Andalusia.

In July and August 2022, with the support of the Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. of Palermo, archaeological reconnaissance was begun in the area aimed at mapping sites and understanding settlement dynamics between the Roman and Islamic periods. This new season of research in the Corleone area appears to be an important opportunity for the knowledge of the archaeological heritage spread throughout the territory, which needs to be scientifically documented in order to provide an information base necessary for the elaboration of protection and valorisation strategies in synergy between the Superintendency BB.CC.AA. and the local authorities. In the coming months the team hope to be able to organise a public meeting open to the public to provide the first preliminary results of this research.