This study analyzes the medieval settlement dynamics in central-southern Sicily, specifically focusing on the Platani River Valley between the 10th and 14th centuries. Grounded in extensive landscape archaeology and systematic field surveys, the research investigates the evolution of rural occupation, bridging the transition from Late Antiquity to the high and late Middle Ages. By juxtaposing surface survey data with archival documentation and toponymic evidence, the author reconstructs the spatial hierarchy, typology, and morphological transformations of rural sites—ranging from fortified settlements to unfortified hamlets (casali) and dispersed farmsteads. Particular emphasis is placed on the intensive survey conducted in Contrada Butermini, which serves as a micro-regional model for understanding local spatial organization and agrarian land use. Ultimately, the volume sheds light on the genesis of Norman-era population patterns and the subsequent crisis of dispersed rural settlement, offering a comprehensive framework for medieval territorial organization in Mediterranean archaeology.