The Peuceti settlement of Monte Sannace

The archaeological park of Monte Sannace is situated on a hilltop approximately 5 km from Gioia del Colle. This site has revealed the remains of a settlement belonging to the ancient Peuceti people dating back to the 10th century BC. While the original name is unknown, it is thought to be Thuriae, the modern-day Turi mentioned by the Roman historian Tito Livio. Many of the artifacts discovered here are now exhibited in the national archaeological museum of Gioia del Colle, located within the town's castle.

Located in the center of the Murge Pugliesi, the site sits on a limestone plateau at an elevation of 382 meters. The settlement was strategically positioned on the watershed, offering natural defenses, fertile land, and easy access to other centers. In antiquity, the area was rich in deciduous forests, including oaks and evergreen holms, with a dense presence of wild fauna which differs from the modern landscape modified by human settlement and agriculture.

By the sixth century BC, the society at Monte Sannace was structured into different social classes, as evidenced by various types of tombs. This period saw a concentration of wealth and land management by small aristocratic groups. The city likely reached its peak before being destroyed around the third century BC, with archaeological evidence showing a violent end connected to Roman punitive expeditions. While Monte Sannace remained neutral toward the powers involved, the Roman Republic eventually excluded the internal Peucezia region from major trade arteries, leading to the site's eventual abandonment.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons