National Archaeological Museum of Altamura, Italian museum
The National Archaeological Museum of Altamura is a small local museum in the southern Italian town of Altamura that houses collections spanning from prehistoric times through the Neolithic period. The plainly arranged exhibition rooms display tools, pottery fragments, and ornaments that illustrate how early humans lived in this region.
The museum documents human settlement in the region spanning tens of thousands of years, with emphasis on finds from nearby prehistoric caves that rank among Europe's oldest known human remains. The collection has grown through ongoing local archaeological excavations that continue to reveal new information about early human societies.
The museum name reflects its role as a keeper of the region's ancient past, showing how early communities shaped daily life through their tools and crafts. Visitors can see pottery and ornaments that reveal the artistic skills and practical needs of people who once lived in this area.
The museum is easily walkable from Altamura's city center and offers comfortable viewing of archaeological finds without crowding in the exhibition rooms. Plan a relaxed pace through the different galleries and consider visiting the small outdoor garden to reflect on what you have seen.
The museum houses bone remains and skulls from local cemeteries that reveal how ancient peoples buried their dead and what rituals they performed. These remains provide rare insights into the social structures and beliefs of prehistoric communities.
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