La nécropole de Serra Cicora (Nardò – Lecce, Pouilles, Italie)

Serra Cicora (Nardo - Lecce) is a neolithic Necropolis dated to the 5th millennium BC, with numerous funeral monuments, among which the burial T7 emerges for its monumentality. It is a drystone structure, whose upper part has fallen down but which likely rose with a truncated cone shape, similarly to the present rural architecture in Salento. The burial contained five individuals, of which the last laid down was a 21-24 years old female, without grave goods. The necropolis is located on the flat top of a hill facing the ionic coast of Salento, in a dominant position on the surrounding landscape. The entire area is surrounded by a wall which made the complex visible from a long distance with a remarkable impact on the landscape. At the center of the area a ritual hut has to be evidenced, around which the burials were located.