We propose a guided tour of this wonderful archaeological, one of the most significant in Europe; found in 1969 and inaugurated in 2016, it bears witness to over 6,000 years of history, based on a complex stratigraphy that covers over 6 metres of depth, through marvellous anthropomorphic steles, probable cultural ploughing, ritual wells, oriented alignments of wooden piles and dolmen and cist tombs. During the excavations, five phases were identified starting from the recent Neolithic period (end of the 5th millennium BC) and throughout the Copper Age (4th-3rd millennium BC), up to the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC).
The area was initially used as a place of worship, and only in the last centuries of the third millennium took on funerary functions, becoming a privileged necropolis, with monumental tombs made up of large stones. Subsequently there were the alignment of at least 24 wooden totem poles then replaced by more than 46 anthropomorphic steles, first true manifestation of megalithism, masterpieces of prehistoric statuary.
THE MUSEUM
The visit starts along a ramp that symbolises the descent in time, from the surface, modern, to the lowest and oldest level: along the descent, some images evoke historical events occurred at the depth reached. At the bottom, the view opens onto the outlook of the area, lit to reconstruct the alternation of night and day with a striking scenic effect.
The itinerary develops along six sectors that retrace the history of the site: from the chronological-hypogeum ramp you arrive at the still mysterious traces, interpreted as ploughing which are part of an ancient cult, then run along the graves and wells, as well as the holes that they testify to an alignment of wooden poles, to finally reach the anthropomorphic stele going up to the exhibition mezzanine.
(insights: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areamegaliticadi*Saint-Martin-de-Corléans).
COSTS
Till 6 peoples 120 Euros, over this, 10 Euro per person (+ 7 Euro for the entrance to the museum)
PLAN
arrival in Aosta with your own transport (timetables and train tickets here, and buses here and here);
departure from the train station at foot and visit the historical centre of the city, along the way to go to the museum;
museum visit (about 3 hours);
lunch in a partner restaurant, based on typical dishes and local products (25 Euro, drinks included);
return to the station by bus number 3 or on foot.
ACCESSIBILITY AND SERVICES
people in wheelchairs: YES
blinds: YES
animals: ADMITTED
toilets: YES, free
photographs: ADMITTED
THE VISIT IS ALSO IN CASE OF RAIN OR SNOW