The National Archaeological Museum "Domenico Ridola" was established in 1911, by the will of Senator Domenico Ridola who donated to the State his important archaeological collections, the museum presents the important archaeological evidence found in the district of Matera.
In the exhibition spaces the finds follow a chronological and topographical order. In the prehistoric section, the most significant findings concern the entrenched villages of the Neolithic age, which testify, starting from the VI millennium B.C., the introduction of agriculture and consequently the structuring of stable settlements, according to models defined in the Eastern Mediterranean.
For the most recent phases of prehistory and for the VI-IV century B.C. the most interesting documentation is related to Timmari, a site not far from Matera. From this centre come, among other things, some grave goods from the IV century B.C. characterised by bronze armour and monumental red-figure vases, as well as numerous votive statuettes of exquisite workmanship, found in a sacred area.
