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Around 8000-9,000 years ago, neolithic life way continued its spread across the Aegean. Until it reached the coasts of Sicily and southern Italy.

Representing an important early neolithic culture in southern Italy. Stentinello culture became particularly well known in Sicily, parts of Calabria and even Malta
Named after a vilage of same name near Syracuse. The culture was also present in the Aeolian islands (Castellaro Vecchio culture); and, Malta (Għar Dalam phase).

As far as the early Neolithic settlers’ material remains are concerned. Characteristics left were unique. Not only the decorative techniques, vessel shapes and motives; but also settlement structures and mortuary rites.

Significant archaeological remains have been found. Including the holes that held poles for support of rectangular huts
Settlements typically consisted of circular or oval huts, with stone foundations and wooden superstructures. Villages were usually at ground level, and surrounded by protective trenches.

Stentinello people practiced agriculture. Like growing crops, and domesticating animals
Crops like wheat and barley; and, animals like sheep, goats, and pigs. Were popular. They also engaged in fishing and hunting. In a relative short period of time. They had an food economy based on the cultivation of cereals; on fishing and, shellfish harvesting.

Stentinello culture is noted for its distinctive pottery, which was often decorated with incised and impressed designs
These ceramics were used for both practical and ceremonial purposes. Pottery, black, or dark in color, was almost always decorated with intricate geometric, or, more rarely, anthropomorphic, patterns etched or engraved. Imprinting of the clay with the heart-shaped shell of the Corculum cardissa, a member of the cockle family Cardiidae .

They used polished stone tools, including axes and sickles
Critical for agricultural practices. The Stentinello people also made tools from stone; bone, and, antler. A material culture existed. Including the lithic industry of flint and obsidian. Industry of bone (awls, needles, spatulas); and, ceramics also existed

There were burials and a belief in the afterlife
Because of their location in the Mediterranean. Stentinello people were part of a wider network of cultural and economic exchanges.

Very specific and difficult to parallelize with neighboring neolithic cultural phenomena. Stentinello culture is significant for understanding the spread of neolithic practices, and the development of early farming communities. In the central Mediterranean region. Check them out with some more neolithic architecture today!

Bibliography: Paolo Orsi (1890). Stazione neolitica di Stentinello
Natali, E., & Forgia, V. (2018). The beginning of the Neolithic in Southern Italy and Sicily. Quaternary International, 470, 253–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2017.07.004

Scarcella, S., Bouquillon, A., & Leclaire, A. (2010). Neolithic Facies of Stentinello Culture: Analysis and Comparison of Ceramics from Capo Alfiere (Calabria) and Perriere Sottano (Sicily). In Springer eBooks (pp. 153–158). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14678-7_22

Sicilian Neolithic Temple Builders – Best of Sicily Magazine. (n.d.). http://www.bestofsicily.com/mag/art294.htm#:~:text=Sicilian%20Neolithic%20Temple%20Builders%20%2D%20Best%20of%20Sicily%20Magazine&text=Sometime%20around%204%2C000%20BC%20(BCE,Tepe%20in%20Turkey%20is%20older).