Museo delle Civiltà Preclassiche della Murgia Meridionale

The Museo delle Civiltà Preclassiche della Murgia Meridionale in Ostuni is a civic archaeological institution responsible for collections from the region and the nearby park at Santa Maria d'Agnano.

Why it matters

The museum connects archaeological finds with the landscape and excavation history of the southern Murgia. Its research and collection focus grew from the discovery of the Gravettian burial known as the Donna di Ostuni.

What to notice

The museum's work spans prehistoric communities through the Messapian period and combines an indoor collection with archaeological evidence from Santa Maria d'Agnano. Together these reveal the long human history of the plateau and its caves.

Context and history

The discovery of the Donna di Ostuni burial in 1991, during excavations directed by Donato Coppola, led to the establishment of the museum and its associated archaeological park. The institution manages the archaeological collection and site, supporting research into the preclassical cultures of the southern Murgia.