Argimusco
The Argimusco is a high plateau situated just North of Mount Etna in Sicily, southern Italy, between the Nebrodi and Peloritani Mountains. It lies within the boundaries of the communes of Montalbano Elicona, Tripi (which is built on the site of the ancient Abacaenum) and Roccella Valdemone. The site offers a wide panorama of the volcano Etna, the Aeolian Islands, the mountains Rocca Salvatesta and Montagna di Vernà, cape Tindari, cape Calavà and cape Milazzo.
Numerous megaliths in quartz arenite, attributed by local tradition to a prehistoric population, are found in this area, as are ancient menhirs and almost unrecognisable dolmens. It is generally considered that these are, in fact, completely natural, being produced by wind erosion.
Amongst the megaliths, around Portella Cerasa, stand two large elongated boulders, while another megalith, not far way, has the appearance of an eagle and is incised with a symbol of the Sun that was worshipped as a god. Further west, at Portella Zilla, a rustic building enclosed the remains of a dolmen with a huge boulder in front, which may be the remains of a fallen menhir.
No signs of prehistoric man’s presence, such as pottery, tools or bones, are found around the presumed monuments.
Sources
- Devins, Paul; Musco, Alessandro. Argimusco Decoded. p. 402.