The “Youth of Mokarta” is displayed in the museum of Salemi.

Last Updated: July 22, 2023

Il Giovinetto di Mokarta esposto nel museo di Salemi

#Trapani
In the museum complex of Salemi, located inside the former Jesuit College of the town of Trapani, the showcase containing the remains of the Young Man of Mokarta was inaugurated. The remains were found during archaeological excavations at the site, which is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Sicily. The restoration, carried out by the University of Palermo, and the partnership between the Municipality of Salemi, the archaeological park of Segesta, and the Lions Club, who created the showcase, have resulted in the presentation of this remarkable achievement in one of the museum’s rooms. The mayor of Salemi, Domenico Venuti, and Rossella Giglio, an archaeologist who has been extensively involved with Mokarta and is also the director of the archaeological park of Segesta, which is responsible for the Mokarta site, were among those present at the presentation.

“This is a very important result for Salemi,” says Venuti. “From now on, another unique testimony of the prehistoric era will find its place in our museum, which is becoming an increasingly important reference point for tourists and scholars in the field. As an administration, we strongly sought the synergy with the Segesta park and the Lions Club, two entities that have always been close to our city over the years, and I thank them for that. This excellent conclusion marks the successful process of enhancing such an important archaeological discovery, and we add another unique piece to our already considerable museum collection.”

Radiocarbon dating analysis conducted on the remains of the Young Man of Mokarta has led to its attribution to the Late Bronze Age, around 1,250 BC. The body was found under the collapse of a wall of a burnt-down hut. Studies conducted on the skeleton have revealed masculine characteristics and an age of around ten years. All the information about the artifact is displayed on an informative panel, created in Italian and English, accompanying the showcase inside the museum.