Tumuli Conversion

[darkerhorse]

Would 3 tumuli of land in Siracusa, Sicily in 1816 equal about 1.3 acres?

[mmogno]

3 tumuli = 3 x 1,088.46 m² = 3,265.38 m²
1.3 acri = 5,260.91 m²

[darkerhorse]

Could a shepherd make a living raising sheep on that size land, or would it just be large enough for a house (and garden)?

[darkerhorse]

The land is described as seminativa (arable?).

[MarcuccioV]

One would have to suppose a reasonably-sized flock would de-foliate that small a parcel fairly quickly. It would be more likely that it were proportionate for a house and garden, whereas the flock would be set to graze on larger fields, either rented or simply allowed for such use by a local possidente.

This is based of course on logic only, without knowledge of the actual circumstances...

[darkerhorse]

Sounds right to me.

[MarcuccioV]

Sounds right to me.

Another possibility would be he simply tended the herd owned by a local landowner...