MUDA - Palazzo Baldassarre

MUDA, the Museo dell'Uomo di Altamura, is housed in Palazzo Baldassarre in Altamura's historic centre. Its exhibition interprets the Altamura Man discovery through a life-size reproduction of the Lamalunga cave chamber, a film about the cave explorations and a reconstruction of the individual.

Why it matters

The Altamura Man fossil was discovered in Lamalunga cave in 1993 and remains in its original setting. The cave's conditions and the fossil's calcite coating make direct public display impracticable. MUDA presents a museum interpretation of the discovery while the nearby National Archaeological Museum presents related scientific reconstructions.

What to notice

The central display recreates a section of the cave at one-to-one scale, based on digital surveys. A film documents the exploration of the cave, and a full-size reconstruction presents the Altamura Man and his environment. These exhibits connect the fossil discovery to the karst landscape of the Alta Murgia.

Context and history

Palazzo Baldassarre stands within Altamura's historic centre, which developed around the medieval city associated with Frederick II's refoundation in 1232. MUDA forms part of the Rete Uomo di Altamura, a network linking the palace museum with the Lamalunga visitor centre and the National Archaeological Museum.