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2. The protohistoric stilt houses
Thousands of years ago, the entrance chamber of the Pertosa-Auletta Caves was marshland crossed by a flowing river. To adapt to this wet environment, people built raised platforms, mostly made of oak, suspended above the ground on vertical posts. These structures are known as pile dwellings or stilt houses.
The ancient dwellings are extraordinary archaeological evidence and, as far as we know today, they remain a unique example in Europe of such dwellings built underground.The stilt village once covered almost the entire available area, extending over roughly 600 square meters. Some fragments survived in the riverbed, unchanged by the transformations of the modern era. Radiocarbon dating of the wooden structures places them roughly between 3,500 and 3,000 years ago.In the centre of the room, directly facing the entrance, you can find a life-sized reconstruction measuring about four and a half meters per side. It shows how the so-called "upper stilt house" was built, that is, the stilt structure closest to the surface.
The reconstruction is about 80 centimetres high and is made up of vertical and horizontal wooden poles with precise interlocking joints.
On top of this wooden framework is a platform made from a mixture of various plant materials and clay. This is where ancient people carried out their daily activities, like the one shown here, set during the Bronze Age. A woman kneels to grind grain, while a curious child watches her. Nearby, there is a firepit surrounded by terracotta pots and a wicker basket, the existence of which were confirmed by archaeological surveys.The next life-sized scene is located at the far left side of the room, along the back wall. A reconstruction of what archaeologists call the “inner votive deposit” can be found there.
We’ll meet you there.