Matera, Italy

stan · Post by **stan** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:17 pm

In today's archeological news: THere is this story:
"Matera: A southern Italian town revives its ancient cave dwellings Mercury News"
Here is another story about the place, with very interesting pictures.
THe hillside dwellings are similar in concept to some of the
Anasazi pueblos in the southwest US.
THe government kicked out the peasants from the caves in the 50's I think, and put them into government housing projects. Now the caves
are being "gentrified" as we say over here.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/public ... taly.shtml

Post by **Minimalist** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:23 pm

Unfortunately, economic interests often exceed public decency,

Man, ain't that the truth!

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:09 pm

I would think caves in that location would have had a history of occupation longer ago than the neolithic though.

stan · Post by **stan** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:42 pm

Another similarity between the Matera and a place like the Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico (picture below) is that the hillsides are made of tufa, or compressed volcanic ash.
In other words, it is pretty soft. Something like plaster.

Beagle, If the caves were there, I'm sure someone must have lived in them. But do you know of any "man made" caves
from the neolithic or before? Seems like
the Ice Age caves were natural, and unmodifed.
No big deal, just a thought.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:53 pm

You're right Stan. I got the impression that the original caves were natural and habitable, but after looking again I think I'm wrong.