The Sicily in Transition project is a collaboration between the University of York and Rome’s University of Tor Vergata, with the support of the Archaeological Supertintendency of Palermo. The aim of this research is to analyse, through the archaeological record, how changes in the political regime influenced the organisation, composition, and life style of the subject populations. The period under consideration runs between the 6th and 13th centuries, a period in which Sicily came under Byzantine, Islamic, Norman and then Swabian dominion. Sicily in Transition foresees the use of new and traditional methods to analyse both collections of finds (environmental remains and artefacts) from earlier excavations and the acquisition of data from new investigations. The investigation focuses on a promising area of central Sicily: the territory of Castronovo di Sicilia. Here, two campaigns have seen magnetometer surveys, field surveys, investigation of the architectural archaeology and the excavation of _sondages_. The aim was to evaluate the archaeological potential of the territory’s principal historical sites. The first results are promising in relation to the typological and chronological variety of the identified sites: a 7th-9th century fortress on Monte Kassar; a small fortress with full medieval and modern phases on Colle San Vitale; a large undefended village with late antique to medieval phases, including important evidence for the Islamic period, in the area of Casale San Pietro. Magnatometer surveys and excavations were undertaken on two different parts of Monte Kassar (the area enclosed by the walls in c. 90 hectares). The discovery of an 8th century dwelling abutting the curtain wall and with its roof collapse still _in_ _situ_ is of particular importance. During the 2015 campaign, the remains of other buildings and the steps leading to the walkway on the wall were uncovered.