'The woman of Ostuni'

'The woman of Ostuni' died approximately 25.000 years ago, whose skeleton with the one of the child who carried in her womb, has been discovered by prof. Donato Coppola, paletnologo of the roman University of Tor Vergata, in the cove of S. Maria d' Agnano. The zone of S. Maria d' Agnano has been attended since the end of the fourth millennium, nel third millenium and part of the scond one a.C,by human groups of cattle breeders that in the second millennium became downright shepherds that at the beginning of the iron age, will create villages around Ostuni. Only Ostuni in fact, became a fortified village in VIII century and a messapica city in the IV century and to which turned into a  medieval city . All these people are joined with the cult, as it testifies the cove of S. Maria d' Agnano. Here,starting from the advanced paleolitico (approximately 25.000 - 20,000 years ago), the interments had placed and just here happened the sensational discovery: an pregnant dead woman, whose rests have been finds in optimal state of conservation, with an almost intact fetus. The cove is opened at the base of the mount of Ostuni. Is a great chasm that has endured several modifications in the course of the centuries. The cove then has become goal of cult also in Christian age. A small chapel at the outside served to repair the faithfuls from the inclemencies. It came made constructed by a bishop in the six hundred . In the inside it is still possible to see traces of frescoes, probably of bizantinian age. In the left part of the great cavity, there’s a small VI century’s small chapel  ,with frescoes of the Vergine. The paving is polishes, sign of the passage of the thousands of faithfuls who oed in pilgrimage. This cove was sure rich of frescoes. The one of the Virgin is the only one arrived until our days. In a part of the cove the burials (dated back to the advanced Paleolitico). It was just here that in 1991, after years of searches, the prof. Donato Coppola  made a discovered of exceptional importance : the found out of the skeleton of ' Delia' with the still intact fetus. For the first time, in fact, the rests of two blood relationed persons lived in Pleistocene age, are arrived to us in perfect state of conservation. Prof. Coppola got in one small opening that allowed it walk in a c shaft in whose advanced part, he had the immense emotion to notice the skeleton of Delia and the fetus. The problem now, consisted in the removal of the skeletons, without damaging them. Therefore they proceeded  to the total removal of the pavement, under which, exactly, there were the bony rests. On the inside of the shaft (micro a cavity not higher than 40-50 cm.), are still visible small shell mounted in the cliff. They were part of the furnishings of the interments. The recovery operations were, as it can be imagined, much difficult. Large iron aces, were knit together to form large box of control (everyone of which weighed 2,5 ql.), for the interments. Beside the body of the unfortunate mother,  were not placed objects considered  of great value (the gold still was not known), but for those people the small shells represented much more than simple ornamental trincket. They were objects daily used  and assumed remarkable importance just in occasion of particular emotional involvement, to testimony of the great solidarity that existed between these people. The group of which belonged 'The woman of Ostuni' occupied of its interment, placing  with the legs contracted in the hole. The skull is studded with small shells pierced.