Le vie di transito e i luoghi sacri in epoca antica in Irpinia

Abstract

Irpinia, thanks to its hydrographic network and mountain passes, has played a strategic role in the connections between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts since prehistoric times. A fertile territory rich in natural resources, it has favoured the development of unique local cultures open to cultural exchange. Permanent settlements, attested from the Neolithic to the Samnite period (6th-3rd centuries B.C.), were concentrated along the Calore and Ofanto rivers, and near sacred areas linked to sulphurous springs and sources, including the famous sanctuary of the goddess Mephitis in the Ansanto Valley. Transhumance and trade along sheep-tracks and river routes shaped the local economy, based on sheep-farming, weaving and trade. With Romanisation (3rd century B.C.), Irpinia saw the introduction of municipalities and infrastructure while maintaining conservative cultural traits. The continuity of pastoral practices and rituals linked to local cults demonstrates the resilient identity of the Irpinian populations.

This study explores the archaeological and landscape evidence, highlighting Irpinia's role as a cultural and commercial crossroads, a bridge between the Apennine and coastal realities, and underlining the strategic and sacred value of the territory in antiquity.