“In the Gallipoli Cognato forest, towering oaks reaching 35 meters in height dominate. Among these majestic trees lie erratic boulders, witnesses of the last glaciation and shelters for prehistoric humans during the Mesolithic period. One of the groups of boulders, called ‘Petre della Mola,’ shows signs of prehistoric craftsmanship, used for sharpening tools. Additionally, there is a stone calendar where, on December 21, the day of the winter solstice, prehistoric humans observed the sun setting through a rocky cleft. In the same forest, there are imposing enclosing walls that surrounded and protected the acropolis, dating back to two distinct periods: the archaic and the classical. These settlements were inhabited by the Lucani, a people of Spartan warriors known for their combative nature. The fortifications aimed to defend against raids, such as the one from Taranto, which even involved Alexander the Molossian, uncle of Alexander the Great. Lucanian settlements were typically located on mountaintops, where light penetrated through the trees, reflecting the meaning of the name Lucania, derived from the Greek ‘līkeios,’ luminous or shining.”