The structure that has come to light at Costa Collina in the valley of San Pietro di Viggiano dates to the Enolithic and Bronze Ages (III-II millennium B.C.). Originally made of wood, this was perhaps a shelter used during transhumance along the valley. Amongst the finds recovered were fragments of pottery with “scale” decoration, dating to the Enolithic period and with elaborate, applied decoration from the Bronze Age. At the same site, a short distance from the prehistoric structure, a large vertical kiln with circular plan was excavated. The excavation uncovered only a large quantity of tiles and brick, probably produced by the kiln, thus the dating of the structure is extremely difficult. However, the typology and construction technique is comparable to other kilns dating to between the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. This type continued to be used in virtually the same form in subsequent periods.
With the collaboration of ENI the kiln has been removed and transferred to the museum at Grumento, where it will be consolidated and put on display.
In the same location two burials of the 6th to 7th centuries B.C. were also found which must have been connected to a small rural settlement. Both were inhumations, in very narrow sub-rectangular graves, orientated on a NW-SE axis. One contained two adult individuals. A bone comb with small iron nails found squashed against the east wall of the grave can be attributed to the first deposition. The second individual, in a supine position on a higher level, had two earrings of bronze wire (square section) with hooked ends and glass-paste beads. (Maria Luisa Nava)