Museo Civico di Ostuni

The Civic Museum of Ostuni occupies premises associated with the Church of San Vito Martire. Its archaeological collection spans the Messapian period through the Middle Ages and includes the remains of the Palaeolithic burial known as the Donna di Ostuni.

Why it matters

The museum preserves the remains of Ostuni 1, a young woman buried at the cave of Santa Maria d'Agnano about 28,000 years ago. Excavated in 1991 under the direction of Donato Coppola, the Gravettian burial included a headdress of pierced shells touched with red ochre. The museum also presents archaeological and historical material from the Messapian settlement and later periods.

What to notice

The Ostuni 1 burial and associated grave goods are central to the prehistoric collection. Other objects trace the region's history through Messapian, Roman and medieval periods, including material from settlements and burial sites in the southern Murgia. The historic church setting adds an architectural layer to the museum's archaeological narrative.

Context and history

The museum is the public collection of the Museo delle Civiltà Preclassiche della Murgia Meridionale, which also oversees the archaeological park at Santa Maria d'Agnano. The civic museum is housed in the former religious complex associated with the Church of San Vito Martire. Institutional sources confirm that the original Ostuni 1 remains and grave goods are displayed in the museum.