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Modern Description: Cozzo Presepe is an important site that lies on the on small hill overlooking the Basento valley on one of the main approaches to the Greek colony of Metaponto. It was originally thought to be a Greek outpost or ‘border control’ for Metaponto ‐ it is near the limit of the known agriculture subdivisions of Metaponto ‐ but subsequent excavation has reassessed this assertion. Much of the fortification wall is still visible and the southern section has a rampart reinforced with tile. There are a number of towers and a central road that leads from a gate within the defensive system with several house near the roads path. Cozzo Presepe is intervisible with several indigenous sites ‐ 5 in total ‐ and seems to be at the centre of a local network of sites that ring the limit of the know agricultural subdivisions of Metaponto. Metaponto itself it intervisible from Cozzo Presepe ‐ just over 13 kilometres ‘as the crow flies’ and slightly longer on foot following a relatively easy journey down the Bradano valley. With Pisticci, Pomarico Vecchio and Difesa San Biagio it could easily relay information about the approach to (or from) the access down to the coast from 3 river valleys: the Cavone, Basento and Bradano. Cozzo Presepe interestingly has what has been identified as a ‘viewing tower’ which seems to have been in place prior to the construction of the circuit wall itself as some of the blocks have been reused in its construction.
Wikidata ID: Q97729244

Info: Myers Lucania

Brett Andrew Myers, Visual Connectivity and Control in Ancient Lucania, MPhil thesis 2018, Univ. of Sydney

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