The area of Li Castelli was inhabited from the Iron Age (VIII-VII century BC). In the VI century BC the small hamlet settlement consists of a number of centralized dwellings. In the IV century BC the site has been surrounded by walls for its defense. The remains of fortifications have been found in a southern area of the railroad. At the end of the I century AD the site gradually abandoned, used by the Romans both as a resting place and as military outpost.
See:
- Fabio Colivicchi: ‘L’Acropoli: risistemazione e impianto dell’edificio a Sud della cinta,’ in L. Lepore (ed.), Il sito antico de “Li Castelli” presso Manduria (Taranto), Atti del Convegno di Firenze, 15-16 Maggio 1997, Manduria: Barbieri, 2000, pp. 141-153
- Cristiana Zaccagnino: L’edificio ellenistico del saggio E: interpretazione preliminare, in Atti del Seminario di Studi Il sito antico de “Li Castelli” presso Manduria (Taranto). Gli scavi, i risultati, le prospettive, Firenze, May 15th-16th 1997, L. Lepore (ed.), Manduria 2000, pp. 155-175