A pregnant woman of 28000 years ago...

On Tuesday 12th May, I moved to Ostuni to attend an event concerning the discoveries made in Grotta di Agnano in Ostuni (Apulia).

The happening ended up with the exhibition of skeleton of a pregnant woman. Beside that, were displayed the tiny bones of her fetus as well.

The incredible thing is that they date back to 28.000 years ago (Paleolithic).

For this special occasion, have convened Prof. Donato Coppola and Prof. Eligio Vacca, two of the main researchers of Grotta di Agnano.

Both of them teach at Università degli studi di Bari.

The event is held within Chiesa di San Vito Martire.

I come in, and after a quick look around, I realise that there are no seats available.

“I am glad for the renewed interest about the cultural heritage.” Prof Coppola begins.

“Preserving cultural heritage is important. Nevertheless, it’s even more important to let the citizens enjoy it. From this perspective, Apulia has a great potential.” He adds.

Prof. Coppola recognizes among the audience one of his former students, who actually works as archaeologist in Oman. 

The professor continues saying that it would have been great if his former student could have worked in Italy.

Unfortunately, the Belpaese spends little money for culture, and that is a shame.

“We have started working in the Agnano cave in 1991. After just one month, I discovered two consanguineous of 28.000 years ago. 

According to recent discoveries in grotta del Cavallo (Lecce), the oldest homo sapiens in Europe are Apulians,

The Agnano cave is located on the promontory of Murgia, from which the prehistoric man used to scrutinize game.

The body of the woman has been found on the roof of the cave. 

The skull was covered by 650 tiny shells, covered by ochre.

“I believe that the woman of Ostuni was venerated like the grande madre, 

There’re many signs which make me thinking in this way: the crown of shells, canines of deer, hands of hers joined on the womb".

"Last but not least, traces of reddish ochre discovered around her body. All of this is a clear evidence of burial rite”. Professor Coppola states.

It seems clear that Grotta di Agnano hosted a Paleolithic sanctuary.

This thesis is supported by an additional proof: stones in the cave are covered by signs, similar to those detected in Paleolithic sites such as Grotta Paglicci (Apulia) and others spread around Europe.

This means that homo sapiens sapiens shared in Europe the same graphic language.

During the whole paleolithic, the artistic language, made of paintings of animals, gradually mutates to symbols and graffiti.

 “We strongly suspect that Dionysiac rites were held in the cave of Agnano. However, the next diggings will tell us more about it”. He says.

Prof. Coppola ends up his lesson mentioning Henry de Lumley, a French scientist who has made a Paleolithic laboratory, which actually magnetizes thousands and thousands of tourists every year. 

Ostuni could rightly became an attraction for researchers and tourists as well.

Now, It is the round of Professor Eligio Vacca: “Studying this woman and her foetus has represented a great opportunity for me”.

The incredible thing is that they have been found in the same place where they have been for 28.000 years.

According to Prof. Vacca, this woman has a Cro-Magnon skeleton. 

The woman was approximately 20 years and 1.70 mt. high. She is supposed to have come from North Africa.

Prof. Vacca wishes to thank all the archaeologists who have come from abroad (France, UK, USA, Czech Republic) to work on this project.

Alessandra Lofino, moderator of this wonderful evening, is given a bunch of flowers.

Finally, it has come the moment to visualise the skeleton of the pregnant and her fetus.

Beside the church of S. Vito Martire, there is a museum which hosts a permanent exhibition, included the discoveries of grotta di Agnano

Therefore, we quickly leave the church through a door set beside the altar.

After few steps, we approach a bright room.

Right in the middle of it, there  is a glasses case.

After having approached it, I am touched by seeing beside the long skeleton, the tiny structure of the fetus.

They look great. Very well preserved. Awesome!

I strongly recommend you to come to Ostuni.

Once here, don't be surprised if you’ll feel the shivers at your back.