The Necropolis

The first excavations
The territory of Tripi underwent systematic archaeological investigations starting in 1952 by François Villard and, sometime later, by Madeleine Cavalier.

The oldest finds, consisting of decorated ceramic materials impressed with lithic materials (obsidian and flint) found in the area of Contrada Piano, near the church of Saint Giovanni, testify to the presence of a human settlement as early as the Stentinellian Neolithic period.

Abundant ceramic materials and the famous rock-cut tombs on the southern wall of Pizzo Cisterna are traceable to the Iron Age.

The Necropolis
Thanks to the archaeologists from the Superintendence of Messina, between 1994 and 2004, investigations were resumed in Contrada Cardusa, revealing an extraordinary and rich necropolis.

The burials, dated between the mid-4th century BC and the 2nd century BC, like the rich funerary goods, testify to a developed society flourishing economically.

Mainly consisting of a pit and occasionally a box made of local stone slabs, the discovered burials included an epitaph with a base and stele, engraved with the name of the deceased in Greek characters, sometimes accompanied by phrases or epithets.

Inside the tombs were found numerous objects, including ceramic elements and particularly refined goldsmith's work, mirrors, iron weapons, and various coins..