Archaeological sites in Umbria

Umbria is the only Italian region having no coastline. Tiber valley has been a main area for communication between Appennines and Tyrrhenian coast since Prehistory, in other words between Umbrian peoples and Etruscans.

The most ancient traces of human presence date from Lower Paleolithic and can be found into central southern areas. Actually evidence from Neolithic came to light both from open-air sites like Norcia and from burial caves. During Bronze Age Tyber valley became a border land between two cultures: Umbrian to the east and Etruscan to the west.

The harmony was erased by Romans feauturing Etruscan's growth. They based many settlements in Umbria so that Spello is the center where can be found the biggest amount of ancient Romans' remains. Roman Umbria time indeed was when the region achieved economic boom.