In the heart of Molise, in the municipality of Civitanova del Sannio, lies an authentic prehistoric treasure: the rock shelter of Morricone del Pesco, located at Pietra Spaccata, near the ancient Lucera-Castel di Sangro sheep trail. Surrounded by lush, fragrant nature-with gorse that colors the landscape bright yellow in spring-this site holds the oldest rock paintings in the region.
Discovered in 2011 by local resident Guido Lastoria, the Morricone del Pesco shelter immediately attracted the attention of archaeologists and scholars. Research conducted by the archaeological cooperative “Le Orme dell’Uomo” and the University of Ferrara confirmed the exceptional importance of this place: in fact, it is the first evidence of rock art ever identified in Molise, with paintings and engravings dating back to the Late Upper Paleolithic (between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago) and the Iron Age (950-720 B.C.).
The smooth surfaces of the rock, shaped over millennia by ice and weathering, are composed of marl, a mixture of limestone and clay dating back some 20 million years. On these walls are preserved drawings made with charcoal and hematite, as well as engravings made with primitive metal tools. The depictions range from anthropomorphic figures to geometric patterns, stylized animals to groups of lines and mysterious symbols yet to be interpreted.
The landscape context amplifies the charm of the site. Indeed, it is nestled in a green and typically mountainous terrain close to the village, observing it from above. It is not only a place of historical significance, but also a space immersed in the wild beauty of the Molise Apennines.
Today, the Morricone del Pesco shelter represents a fundamental point of reference for knowledge of prehistory in Central and Southern Italy and a must-see destination for those who love archaeology, nature and the discovery of man’s oldest roots.