The Metal Objects from the sanctuary of Bitalemi and their context

The bronze objects fragments from the archaic votive deposits in the sanctuary of Demetra Thesmophoros at Bitalemi (Gela, Sicily) have been studied in these last years preparing the complete edition of the old excavations. The direct analysis of the bronze objects and the research of comparison made possible to understand how important was the practice of dedication of bronze fragments in this sanctuary, the different commercial route interesting the coasts of the Sicily in archaic time, the meaning of offering mostly just fragments and the rôle of the bronze heaps trade in the Mediterranean basin.