{:it}Dalla Preistoria alla fase Messapica {:}{:en}The ancient history of Oria | Antica Oria{:}{:es}Desde la prehistoria hasta la Era Messapica | Antica Oria{:}{:de}Von der Prähistorie zur Zeit der Messapier | Antica Oria{:}{:fr}De la Préhistoire à la période Messapica | Antica Oria{:}

Phase prehistoric

Archaeological finds

We have trace from the prehistoric phase. The finding of lithic material and prehistoric pottery in san Giovanni and Laurito surroundings are from the stone age.

Founding of the city

The city of Oria, according to historian Gaspare Papatodero, was found in 1007 b.C. its origins are from a Mycenaean-Cretan population which, according to historian Erodoto, after being castaway in the Pugliashores, they stayed there, founding and old village named Hyria(name commonly used in the Egeo sea). Beside the Greek literature as a proof source we have found also, Mycenaean and Cretan arts, a sign of the city origins.

Messapica phase

Prehistoric coins

According to university of Amsterdam, Oria became City-State in the VIII century. It s construction is in south Italian style, we can start seeing the first public contructions and temples, in this time-frame Oria growth significally with its economy but also as a influencer in the region.

Many are the findings of money and pottery that that proves oria relationship with the other major messapiche cities(sibaro e meaponto).

Also famous is the love and hate relations with Taranto, which sometimes they will trade together but other time they will go to war like the one that saw oria battling against the coalition Taranto-Reggina, and winning. The philopher erodoto wrote : this was the major catharstophhy between greek and reggiani that we know about., 3000 ”reggiani” died, and we cant even count the number of greek.