L'insediamento di Satyrion - Saturo (Leporano - TA): dal mito alla storia, dall'abbandono al recupero

Alongside the Ionian Coast, on a promontory between two harbours and about to 12 Km SE from Taranto there is the ancient settlement of Satyrion, one of the most significant places in the Mediterranean. Situated in a privileged geomorphological position, between two creeks protected by the wind and favoured by rich water springs, the site has been inhabited since Neolitic to high Middle Age. The place-name sets already a huge reflection on its chronological phases and on the diacronic relationship with Taranto. Presence of ancient structures in the area was well known since 1700, but there will be sistematic excavations just since the half of the XX century. In 1959 F.G. Lo Porto found a holy area dedicated to the nymph Satyria. The settlement first period of the site dates back to the second half of the VII century b.C. and used to the first years of the II century b.C. On the relief in front of Porto Perone bay, since the first years of the 1900 was found the protohistoric site and the excavations permitted to study the several types of huts referred to different phases, since the middle Bronze Age. From the arcaic age to the Hellenistic age, the higher part of the hill was used as holy area, perhaps dedicated to Athena. About the II century b.C., remains of a structure in front of the sea should be useful for the harbour. Above them, during the years of Augustus, the plateau was occupied by a big villa used up to the V century b.C. The importance of this site is underlined by the establishment of the Parco Archeologico di Saturo which, for a long time, did not give the necessary protection and valorization useful for the development of the area.