Tue – Sun
9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Last admission 7:30 p.m.
Level A tells the story of the earliest human presence in Calabria, from the first prehistoric settlements to the Metal Ages, on the threshold of Greek colonization. Artifacts from caves and necropolises document daily life, funerary practices, and the first signs of spirituality. Archaeological evidence — stone tools, figurines, jewelry, and pottery — comes from important sites such as the Grotta del Romito, Torre Galli, and Broglio di Trebisacce. The exhibition allows visitors to follow the technological and cultural evolution of communities that left a lasting mark on the history of the Mediterranean.
Between the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods (120,000–12,000 years ago), Calabria was one of the first inhabited regions of the Italian peninsula. The cast of the rock engraving of Bos primigenius from the Grotta del Romito in Papasidero (CS), along with the painted pebbles from the Grotta della Madonna, represent the earliest artistic expressions in Calabria. Also of great interest are the skeletal remains of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, which illustrate the evolution of humankind. Numerous other artifacts — made of flint and bone — further demonstrate the creative abilities of prehistoric humans.
With the Neolithic period (12,000–4,000 years ago), agriculture and the first forms of structured craftsmanship became established. On display are flint and bone tools, jewelry, female figurines linked to fertility, and some of the oldest examples of handmade pottery. The incised, impressed, or painted decorations applied before firing reveal a refined symbolic language. Artifacts from the Grotta Sant’Angelo also feature markings that resemble real elements — possibly early signs of writing. Over time, the quality of the clay and the complexity of the decorations increased, reflecting an increasingly sophisticated material culture.
In the 2nd millennium BCE, Calabria fully entered the Bronze Age, marking a turning point in all aspects of daily life. In funerary practices, cremation began to appear alongside inhumation. The ivory figurine from Punta di Zambrone, of Minoan origin, is evidence of strong connections with the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Iron Age (9th–8th centuries BCE) saw the emergence of gold, bronze, and ivory jewelry, including fibulae and spiral bracelets.
