New inscriptions and rock art from Grotta Poesia (Apulia) Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology, Technology

This workshop will present new research from the project Uncovering Messapic Texts: Inscriptions from Grotta Poesia (John Fell Fund, 2024-5). Grotta Poesia, a coastal sanctuary in Apulia, is home to hundreds of overlapping prehistoric engravings and inscriptions in Messapic, Latin, and Greek. The event brings together archaeologists, philologists, epigraphists, and digital humanists to discuss recent discoveries and methodological advances in documenting and interpreting this uniquely complex site. The first session will focus on archaeological and technological approaches, – including the use of AI in analysing the cave’s engravings, which was also the focus of “Digirock”, a joint project between the Università del Salento and the CETMA – while the second will introduce newly identified inscriptions in Messapic and Latin that shed fresh light on the mysterious Messapic language.

The workshop is free and open to all, with in-person and Zoom participation available, but it is necessary to register: for in-person registration, click here (TBC) for online registration, click here (TBC)

Programme

Introduction (2.00 – 2.10)

Session 1 – Archaeology and Technology (2.10 – 3.45pm)

New research on rock art at Grotta Poesia: preliminary results and archaeological perspectives

Teodoro Scarano (Università del Salento)
Italo Spada (CETMA)
Discussant: Robin Skeates (Durham)

3.45 – 4.15pm      Tea & Coffee break
 

Session 2 – Philology and Epigraphy (4.15 – 5.45pm)

New Messapic and Latin inscriptions from Grotta Poesia

Michele Bianconi (Oxford)
Gavin Blasdel (Texas A&M)
Marta Capano (Siena Stranieri)
Viviane Léger Pirus (Sorbonne Université / ULB)
Discussant: Emmanuel Dupraz (EPHE-PSL / ULB)