On February 12, the 2025 archaeological excavation campaign at the Pertosa-Auletta Cave came to an end. This site, of great historical interest, is located in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni Geopark in the province of Salerno, Italy. The research, which began in the second half of January, focused on the area of the cave entrance, where a team of archaeologists conducted excavations along the underground river that flows through the cave.
One of the most significant discoveries of this campaign was the identification of a Hellenistic-era cult structure, dating between the 4th and 1st centuries BCE. Located along the underground watercourse, this sacred area has revealed numerous objects of archaeological interest, which will be subjected to specialized studies in the coming months.
This finding reinforces the hypothesis that the cave played a key role in the religion and culture of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the region.
At the same time, researchers continued studying the protohistoric pile-dwelling village discovered last year, a wooden elevated structure that represents a unique case in Europe within a hypogeal environment. During this campaign, new extensions of the platform were uncovered, suggesting a greater structural complexity than previously assumed.
Wood samples were collected for laboratory analysis to determine their precise dating and the environmental conditions that allowed their preservation over the centuries.
The excavations were carried out by the MIdA Foundation in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Salerno and Avellino. Additionally, the project included the participation of the Speleological-Archaeological Research Center “Enzo dei Medici” and the Central Institute of Archaeology (ICA).
The latter, as part of its initiatives to define methodological guidelines for hypogeal contexts, signed an agreement with the MIdA Foundation to develop a pilot project that standardizes procedures in archaeological-speleological research.
Other key actors in the research included the Iren S.p.A. company and the municipalities of Pertosa and Auletta, which provided logistical and technical support. The collaboration of these institutions has enabled a rigorous and multidisciplinary excavation campaign, whose impact is expected to go beyond the academic field and contribute to the appreciation of the local cultural heritage.
The next phase of excavations is scheduled for early 2026, coinciding with the temporary closure of the cave for biological conservation purposes. This suspension of tourist activities allows archaeological investigations to proceed without interruptions, facilitating the documentation and analysis of new findings.
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