The indigenous settlement of Difesa di San Biagio is situated close to the river Bradano on one of the lower slopes of the Montescaglioso hill chain. Excavations of a house were re-opened (Casa α). This is formed by at least four rectangular rooms, one of which is 16m long. It should be noted that the plan of the house is still incomplete. The main phase dates to within the Hellenistic period, therefore to the period between the end of the 4th century B.C. and the 3rd century B.C., with a final phase dating to the 2nd to 1st century B.C. Worthy of note is the presence of a roof comprising stroteres and kalypteres similar to Laconian types (amongst which there were several opaiai keramides with a central rectangular hole (the corners of which had been rounded). Some tiles have stamps bearing the inscription ΒΙΩΤΟΣ. The central room contained a high concentration of large clay containers, including louteria (of the high-footed type) and pithoi with lids of various types which had been mended with lead ties in antiquity. (Maria Luisa Nava)