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Timpone della Motta
39.8078° N, 16.3686° E
About
The Timpone della Motta is a hill 2 km to the southwest of Francavilla Marittima in Calabria, Italy that was inhabited since the Middle Bronze Age. In the Iron Age the hill was the site of an Oenotrian settlement. The Oenotrians were influenced by the culture of the Greek colonists from nearby Sybaris, who eventually took over the site in the second half of the seventh century and transformed it into their acropolis and an important sanctuary, which was notable as the site of the first known ancient Greek temples of Magna Graecia on the Italian Peninsula. The hill was abandoned when the Bruttians conquered the region in the fourth century BC.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Wooden temples erected
Last quarter of the 8th century BCE
Foundation of Sybaris
c. 720 BCE
Sybarite takeover
Second half of the 7th century BCE
Major building program
6th century BCE
Attic imports after Sybaris fall
510 BCE
Abandonment after Bruttian conquest
4th century BCE
Middle Bronze Age dwelling
Middle Bronze Age
Oenotrian settlement
9th–8th centuries BCE
First necropolis excavation
1963
Illegal looting period
1970s–1980s
Rescue excavation on acropolis
1986–1987
Groningen Institute fieldwork
1991–2008
Modern excavations resumed
from 2009
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Storage Structures
Defensive Structures
Public and Civic Structures
Burial and Funerary Structures
Industrial and Craft Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Artistic and Decorative Features
Agricultural and Land Use Features
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
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