Museo Archeologico Nazionale Domenico Ridola

The National Archaeological Museum of Matera is the oldest museum in Basilicata. Established in 1911, with a national law, by the will of the senator Domenico Ridola, who donated to the State its important archaeological collections, presents the important archaeological evidence found in the area of ​​Matera. As far as prehistoric times are concerned, the most significant findings regard some entrenched villages of the Neolithic age, which also testify in this area, starting from the 6th millennium BC, the introduction of agriculture and consequently the structuring of stable settlements, according to defined models. in the Eastern Mediterranean. For the most recent phases of prehistory and for the VI-IV century BC stage. the most interesting documentation is related to Timmari, a site located a short distance from Matera. From this center come, among other things, some funerary objects from the 4th century BC. characterized by bronze armor and monumental red-figure vases and numerous votive statuettes, of exquisite workmanship, found in a sacred area.