Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Melfese Massimo Pallottino

The Museo archeologico nazionale del Melfese is situated in the castle of Melfi. It is home to a vast collection of archaeological findings from the Vulture-Melfese area. These artifacts provide insights into the indigenous populations of various historical periods, including prehistory, Daunian, Samnite, Roman, Byzantine, and Norman eras.

Museum Layout and Exhibits

Inaugurated in 1976, the Museo archeologico nazionale del Melfese is organized into three rooms on the castle's ground floor. The first room displays prehistoric artifacts, including daggers, worked stones, decorated ceramics, and various Bronze Age materials. The second room showcases items from princely tombs, such as bronze and iron weapons, and clay and bronze pottery. The third room houses artifacts from the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, discovered in the Lucanian municipalities of Lavello and Banzi.

The Sarcophagus of Rapolla

The most significant artifact in the Museo archeologico nazionale del Melfese is the Sarcophagus of Rapolla, also known as the Sarcophagus of Melfi in archaeological studies. This monument, originating from Asia Minor and dating back to the 2nd century AD, was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century.