Studies
There were several scholars who in the twentieth century proposed studies and theories on the Argimusco plateau.
In the book 'Montalbano Elicona. Storia e Attualità 'by Nicola Terranova, Argimusco is mentioned several times, above all in reference to the passage of the Roman legions under the command of Cornificio and Ottaviano Augusto (1st century BC). In this regard, the author cites the works of Cicero (Verrine) and Appiano Alessandrino (Of the civil wars of the Romans).
Among the first scholars who have carried out research on Argimusco and its territory, we must certainly include Prof. Gaetano Maurizio Pantano, formerly a teacher of drawing and history of art who lives in Montalbano Elicona.
Fascinated by the countless rock structures scattered throughout the area surrounding the town of Montalbano, interpreted as tangible signs of an ancient and unknown civilization of the past, Prof. Pantano studied the entire area for more than twenty years, discovering interesting prehistoric sites. Part of this research was merged in the famous essay 'Megaliths of Sicily' in 1994.
Another scholar who undertook research on the Abacenine territory is Prof. Giuseppe Todaro, a science teacher who unfortunately died in 2017. The first studies of Prof. Todaro date back to the beginning of the 80s of the last century. It is to underline his foresight of the proposal of a cultual and primitive value of the Argimusco plateau. His research has converged into three books: the essay 'Alla ricerca di Abaceno' in 1992, and the two novels 'Il mistero di Arnaldo' and 'Ritorno a Montalbano' (2009 and 2013).
Although it suggested numerous research proposals and ideas, the area was not subject to further studies. Meanwhile, in the following years, the Argimusco plateau was discovered by an increasing number of nature lovers, hikers and travelers.
And so many years after the discoveries and studies of the Professors Pantano and Todaro, almost by chance, in the summer of 2004, the archeo-astronomer Dott. Andrea Orlando discovered this unique place and, from that moment, began a scientific study on the mysterious plateau , fascinated and abducted by the beauty of its stones. After years of surveys, observations and visits, in September 2014 the Etna scientist took part in the XXII Convention of the SEAC (European Society for Astronomy in Culture) in Malta, presenting the first scientific study on Argimusco and the surrounding territory.
In 2015 the work was also presented at the XV conference of the SIA (Italian Society of Archaeoastronomy), held at the University of Catania on 11 and 12 September. In June 2017 the first scientific publication on the Argimusco plateau was finally published by the prestigious Springer publishing house: 'Argimusco: Cartography, Archeology and Astronomy'. This publication is included in the volume 'The Light, The Stones and The Sacred', edited by Andrea Orlando himself.