A town in southern Italy that has a Lower Palaeolithic site with a hand axe or Acheulian level overlying one with abundant sidescapers (evolved Clactonian, Tayacian or Charentian?). Originally a settlement of the Lucanians (an ancient Italic tribe), it was taken by the Romans after the Samnite Wars (291 BC). Its position on the Appian Way made it an important Roman garrison town. The poet Horace was born there, and many of his poems mention it.