Tombe sicule e insediamento di Poliporto

North of Soverato, the San Nicola district preserves archaeological traces of ancient settlement along the coast. Cremation burials attributed to the Siculi and remains associated with the Greek- and Roman-period landing place known as Poliporto extend the area's history beyond its modern seaside town.

Why it matters

The finds around San Nicola point to a long sequence of settlement and exchange on this stretch of the Ionian coast. The municipal account associates the cremation graves with the Siculi and describes Poliporto as a coastal landing connected with the wider Greek and Roman world.

What to notice

The archaeological evidence is scattered. Remains identified as possible storehouse foundations have been found along the shore, alongside a large dolium and Roman coins. Circular cavities cut into the rock have been interpreted as installations for salt production or millstone extraction. The modest cremation graves are significant for what they reveal about early communities in the area.

Context and history

Thucydides records the Siculi in this region, placing the graves within an early historical landscape. In later centuries, the coast formed part of the sphere of Greek Skylletion and Roman Scylletium. Finds from Soverato, including coins from several Greek cities, attest to the area's connections with wider networks of exchange.