| The town of Ceglie, especially known to archaeological literature for the many finds of epigraphs messapian, was identified with the ancient village of Caelia mentioned in the first century. d. C., by Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia III, 101). The great archaeological heritage returned from the city since the late nineteenth century and consists, in large part, funerary objects, has been subject to sporadic mentions in specialized studies, and the data recovered were never placed in relation to each other. Only in 1975 all the findings, documented and reported in the municipal area and urbanized area, have been reported on mapping the Military Geographical Institute by Lorenzo Quilici and Stefania Quilici Gigli in the repertory of archaeological heritage of the Province of Brindisi. The aim of this work was to establish a comprehensive index to be kept in mind and to which to refer in the programming of regional development. In 1989, moreover, all the data relating to archaeological discoveries of Ceglie, derivable from the file archives of the Archaeological Superintendence of Puglia, were included in the repertory of archaeological Messapia, computerized and maintained by the same Superintendent. Today, with the institution, the local archaeological museum can give a concrete answer to the expectations of scientists and citizens about the knowledge and appreciation of the archaeological heritage of Ceglie. In the guided tour inside the museum, it is clear the importance of the historical center from the sixth to the third century. C. and its link with the Greek colony of Taranto in terms of cultural and economic, as is clear from the grave goods recovered and impressive defensive system messapica of age. Among the most significant pieces of the collection, in addition to the red-figured vases and style Gnathia, and a metope decoration of a funerary monument in the shape of naiskos, we find the Messapian inscriptions like the one on a fragment of a slab of a tomb found in 1924, south of the Capuchin church, demolished some time ago the other, instead, on the edge of another sarcophagus, was found in 1915 at a location not well defined. |