Analisi stratigrafica e funzionale di un’area di combustione nel luogo di culto messapico di Piazza Dante (Vaste - Lecce)

Archaeological investigations carried out in 1999 in the town centre of Vaste (Puglia, inland from Otranto) have brought to light a Messapian sanctuary. The sacred area includes a building divided in two enclosures with fireplaces, and an open space with three large underground pits. In the enclosure B a large hearth comprises layers pertaining to various activities in the life of the sanctuary. They show a persisting use of the same area going on through centuries since the sixth till the end of the third century BC. In the first century BC this place was still reminded, so it was protected by a crumbled limestone stratum. Metallurgical and archaeobotanical analysis contribute to reconstruct some aspects of the worship. Parole chiave Italia meridionale, indigeni (Messapi), età ellenistica, Demetra, focolare, archeologia della nostalgia, archeobotanica, archeometallurgi