Roman Furnaces of Alcamo
The Roman Furnaces of Alcamo represent an ancient production plant which is of particular importance at an international level both for the extension of the site and for the quality of conservation.
La the first furnace on the site was accidentally found in 2000 during the carrying out of some earthworks for building activities in the area. Later, within the archaeological complex, three furnaces were discovered, two rooms for the production and five wall structures that delimit the production area, made with large blocks of local limestone. The masonry structures served to contain the phenomena of expansion and contraction of the soil due to thermal excursions during the heating and cooling phases.
The furnaces, dated between the 1st century AD. and the mid-fifth century AD, are arranged in a "row" along the north-south axis. They have a circular shape with a diameter of about 3 meters and an excellent state of conservation. One of the furnaces has a "muffle" structure, and represents a very rare example in Europe of the Roman age. The structure of the "praefurnium", "pre-kiln", and part of the corridor that was used for the insertion of the wood is clearly distinguishable.
According to scholars it is probable that in the area there were a much higher number of kilns and, probably, it is believed that an inhabited nucleus could also exist given the large number of people who had to work on this site.
The furnaces were used for the production of household and construction materials, such as crockery, amphorae, tiles and bricks, roof tiles, common ceramics, and it is probable a possible connection with the commercial activity of the port of Castellammare del Golfo.
