The human presence in Molise dates back to pre-history: the first evidences of men presence in Isernia date back 730 thousand years ago and make of the Homo Aeserniensis one of Europe’s first inhabitants.
After the first nomad inhabitants, 2500 years ago, the territory of Molise became the land of Samnites, the ancient civilization that, before submitting to Romans, humiliated them at Forche Caudine. Archaeological evidences of this population lie in Pietrabbondante and Terravecchia in Sepino. In the provincial Samnitic Museum in Campobasso are kept objects of everyday use found in the excavations. Evidences of the Roman conquest lie in the archaeological areas of Altilia and in the towns of Venafrum and Larinum.