A sacred structure in pre-Roman Samnium

This paper is the result of ongoing research at the University of Molise, which aims to identify and connect via the thread of consciousness the most noteworthy examples of historical and artistic architecture in the Molise region. The objective is to document this structural patrimony and make it known to the wider public and in so doing render known the history of the regional territory, which is too often ignored. Thus, the desire is to facilitate the creation of a conservation programme, as such patrimony is a primary resource for the Molise region, which is also valid as a stimulus for tourist itineraries. This paper discusses the pre-Roman temple situated at San Giovanni in Galdo, a structure that narrates its time. A programme of wide-ranging exploration in the archives and in the field was developed and when the cultural history and geometries emerged that generated the sacred enclosure, the structure was catalogued and entered into the data base set up at the beginning of this cultural journey in the territory of Molise. The investigation meant that the known documentation could be updated and added to, in particular with drawings and photographs that provided an understanding of the connections between the structure and the surrounding territory, and more generally an understanding of its historical and artistic value. Studies were also set up that aimed to research the structure’s proportions and geometries, providing new digital images of the temple.