In Roman times, the town was known as Volcei. It was the chief town of the independent tribe of the Volceiani, Vulcientes or Volcentani, whose territory was bounded north by that of the Hirpini, west and south by Lucania and east by the territory of Venusia. Some pre-Roman ruins still exist.[3] It became a municipium, and in 323 CE had an extensive territory attached to it, including the town of Numistro, the large Cyclopean walls of which may still be seen, 35 km below Muro Lucano.[4]