The National Archaeological Museum of Siritide

The National Archaeological Museum of Siritide, located in Policoro (Matera), in Basilicata, is a true treasure chest that tells the millennia-old story of a fascinating land — a crossroads of peoples and cultures. Founded in 1969 and adjacent to the Archaeological Park of Siris-Herakleia, the museum offers an exhibition route that guides visitors through the ages, from the earliest prehistoric communities to the Roman era.

The museum is spread over several floors: the basement houses the archaeological storage rooms, the ground floor includes visitor services and an auditorium, while the upper floor is entirely dedicated to the permanent exhibition and temporary displays. The exhibition is organized into various thematic rooms that illustrate the complex historical and cultural evolution of the region:

• Prehistory and Protohistory: This section welcomes visitors with finds that testify to the first human presence in the Sinni and Cavone valleys, dating from the Neolithic to the Metal Ages. Here one can admire artifacts from the “Gaudo Culture”, including pit tombs and their related grave goods.
• Siris: The second room is dedicated to the ancient Greek city of Siris, founded in the 7th century BCE by Ionian settlers from Colophon. Objects on display narrate daily life, craftsmanship, and rituals in this flourishing colony.
• The Necropolises of Siris: The third room explores the funerary aspects of Siris, presenting grave goods unearthed in its cemeteries, with a particular focus on figured ceramics and votive objects from the 7th–6th centuries BCE.
• The End of Siris: A crucial moment in the region’s history, this section documents the destruction of Siris at the hands of the Achaean colonies of Metapontum, Croton, and Sybaris.
• Foundation of Herakleia: The fifth room illustrates the birth of Herakleia in 433–432 BCE, founded by Taranto and Thurii on the hill and plain of Policoro after the victory over Siris.
• The City of Herakleia: This section displays artifacts that bear witness to the city’s remarkable urban development, which in the 4th century BCE became the seat of the Italiote League. Visitors can admire votive offerings, statuette molds, and other objects that reflect the city’s cultural richness and craftsmanship.
• The Sanctuaries of Herakleia: Dedicated to places of worship, particularly the sanctuaries of Demeter and Dionysus, this section includes statuettes of Artemis and various votive objects.
• The Chora: This area explores the territory surrounding Herakleia, known as the chora, and its relationship with the city.
• The Necropolises of Herakleia: Another section is devoted to Herakleia’s funerary practices, featuring red-figure pottery and fine gold jewelry.
• The Enotri: Rooms ten to twelve are dedicated to the indigenous Enotrian populations, who inhabited the region before the arrival of the Greeks. The exhibition features grave goods from major inland sites, dating between the 9th and 5th centuries BCE, including bronze and iron artifacts, silver, gold, and amber jewelry, and geometrically decorated pottery, all testifying to a refined and independent culture.
• The Lucanians: The thirteenth room is dedicated to the Lucanians, who settled in the region starting from the 4th century BCE. Here too, the funerary goods from cemeteries such as Anglona, Chiaromonte, Tursi, and Armento are of extraordinary significance.
• Space for Temporary Exhibitions: The final room is devoted to rotating exhibitions, exploring specific themes or presenting new discoveries.
•  

The Funerary Goods: A Mirror of Ancient Societies

The funerary collections are among the most evocative and meaningful sections of the Museum of Siritide. These objects, placed in tombs alongside the deceased, offer a privileged window into the beliefs, rituals, social structures, and material culture of the peoples who inhabited Basilicata.

From the Enotrian burials (9th–5th century BCE) emerge rich grave goods containing bronze armor, testifying to warrior elites, as well as refined silver, gold, and amber jewelry, which reveal both craftsmanship mastery and the presence of an aristocratic class. Indigenous geometric pottery also stands out, narrating the cultural identity of these early populations.

With the arrival of the Greeks, the grave goods became enriched with imported Athenian ceramics, first black-figure and later red-figure, as well as Etruscan bucchero vases, attesting to wide cultural and commercial exchanges. The famous Tomb of the Painter of Policoro (5th century BCE) is an outstanding example of artistic production linked to funerary contexts, while the discovery of the tomb of a goldsmith (1st century BCE – 1st century CE) highlights the continuity of specialized crafts.

The necropolises of Anglona, Chiaromonte, Tursi, and Armento, together with the sumptuous tomb of a princess containing around a thousand artifacts dating from the 7th–6th centuries BCE, offer a vast range of finds documenting the evolution of funerary practices and the identity of the Enotrian and Lucanian peoples, who still “speak” today through these objects about their lives and their vision of the afterlife.

Address: Via Nicolò Palermo, 12, 75025 Policoro (MT)

Contacts: +39 0835 972154

Opening hours:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday–Sunday: 09:00–20:00

Tickets:

• Full museum ticket: €5.00
• Full archaeological park ticket: €3.00
• Reduced museum ticket: €2.00 (EU citizens aged 18–25)
• Combined ticket (Museum + Park): €6.00
• Free admission for visitors under 18, subscribers, and other eligible categories.

Official website: https://musei.basilicata.beniculturali.it/musei/museo-nazionale-della-siritide/