Villaggio Neolitico: A Journey Back to Italy's First Farmers

The Villaggio Neolitico, or Neolithic Village, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of some of Italy's earliest inhabitants, dating back to between 7000 and 3700 years ago. Located on the Murgia plateau near Matera, this site represents one of the first stable human settlements in the area. These early farming communities chose this location for its fertile land, grazing areas, and woodlands. The village is fortified by a unique, figure-eight-shaped ditch carved into the calcarenite rock. This defensive structure divided the village into two sections: a smaller, round eastern section and a larger, oval western section. Within the ditch, archeologists have discovered numerous artifacts, including ceramics with geometric designs, tools made of flint and obsidian, and bone spatulas. These findings provide valuable insights into the daily lives and skills of the Neolithic people who lived here. Today, much of the ditch is filled with debris accumulated over millennia, but sections exposed during archaeological digs in the 20th century reveal its original form. Visitors can still see traces of post holes that once supported huts and larger holes used for food storage and burials. The site offers a tangible connection to the past, allowing visitors to imagine the lives of these early agricultural pioneers and appreciate their ingenuity and resilience.