Museo dell'Alto Tavoliere

In the heart of San Severo, Italy, lies a hidden gem that beautifully encapsulates the rich history and vibrant culture of the region: the Museo dell'Alto Tavoliere. Housed in the splendid 18th-century Palazzo San Francesco, this civic museum offers an immersive journey through time, from the depths of prehistory to the medieval era, with a particular focus on the ancient inhabitants of Daunia. Established in 1989 and inaugurated in its current form in 2009, the museum is a testament to the enduring legacy of this storied land.

The Historical Significance of Palazzo San Francesco

The Museo dell'Alto Tavoliere is housed within the historic Palazzo San Francesco, a former monastic palace of the Conventual Fathers. The original Franciscan monastery was founded in 1232, but it suffered significant damage during the earthquake of 1627. It was subsequently rebuilt in the latter half of the 18th century, with the addition of the southwest wing adjacent to the crumbling urban walls. During the Napoleonic era, the monastery was suppressed, and the building was repurposed as a barracks. In 1813, it was transformed into an orphanage, and since 1989, it has been home to the Alessandro Minuziano Municipal Library, the Municipal Historical Archive, and the Civic Museum.

The Archaeological Collection

The museum's archaeological collection is a treasure trove of artifacts, primarily sourced from donations and recoveries by the local branch of the Archeoclub d'Italia. These artifacts span a vast timeline, from the Lower Paleolithic (800,000-100,000 years ago) to the medieval period. The exhibition is meticulously organized by historical epochs, creating a coherent narrative that elucidates the evolutionary phases of the ancient inhabitants of Daunia, with a particular emphasis on finds from San Severo and its surrounding areas.

The oldest artifacts in the museum date back to the Lower Paleolithic, represented by Acheulean hand axes from the Gargano region. As we move through the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods, the tools become increasingly sophisticated, reflecting advancements in technique. The Neolithic era (6000-3000 BC) is represented by fragments of impressed, incised, and painted pottery, highlighting the significant role of the Tavoliere region during this phase.

The Iron Age is documented through glossy pottery and painted vessels with geometric decorations. Many of these geometric Daunian-style vases (9th-6th century BC) were excavated from tombs in the current urban area of San Severo, indicating the presence of small villages of Daunian farmers and shepherds, who only began to feel the cultural influence of Magna Graecia in the 4th-3rd centuries BC.

The Hellenistic and Roman Periods

The museum's Hellenistic collection is particularly noteworthy, with a significant portion of the artifacts originating from the excavations at Masseria Casone and Pedincone. The necropolis at Casone, abandoned in the 3rd century BC, yielded the grave goods of seventy-four tombs excavated between 1970 and 1971. These tombs varied in shape (rounded, oval, semi-ovoid, or squared) and typically contained the remains of one individual, occasionally two or three. Alongside the deceased, personal items, ornaments, and various types of pottery were found, including black-glazed ceramics, Gnathia-style vases, and red-figure pottery.

From Pedincone, the museum houses the grave goods of five tombs, among the earliest known cist tombs with stone slab linings in the San Severo area. Notable finds from this site include a bronze belt, a black-glazed kylix with floral decoration, a two-handled cup decorated with hearts and palmettes on a red background, and a bronze mirror with a hinged lid adorned with geometric motifs.

The Roman period is represented by imperial oil lamps, glass containers, fragments of red-glazed pottery bearing the maker's stamp, and wine transport amphorae.

The Luigi Schingo Art Gallery and Educational Services

In addition to its archaeological treasures, the museum also hosts the Luigi Schingo Art Gallery, which features a collection of modern paintings. The museum offers a range of educational and cultural services aimed at schools and individual visitors. These include workshops in four main areas: archaeology, history and art, science and anthropology, and the environment.

In 2015, the museum inaugurated the Andrea Pazienza Archive, a documentation center dedicated to the renowned artist from San Severo. This archive contains comics, albums, exhibition catalogs, newspaper articles, theses, and multimedia materials, all freely accessible to the public.

The Museo dell'Alto Tavoliere is not just a repository of artifacts; it is a vibrant center of learning and cultural exchange. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history of San Severo and the broader region of Daunia, making it an essential destination for anyone interested in the ancient past and artistic heritage of this fascinating part of Italy.