The Daunians were an Iapygian tribe located in northern Apulia, corresponding broadly with the province of Foggia today. They spoke the Messapian language and had a distinctive archaeological culture, first coming into contact with the Greeks when the latter embarked upon a large mission of expansion and colonisation around the western Mediterranean Sea (8th – 5th century BC). The Daunians were famed for their beautiful geometric pottery, which was decorated in both polychrome and bichrome palettes. In later periods, their decorative technique expanded to include crudely-rendered figures and animals.
To find out more about polychromy in ancient art, please refer to our relevant article: Polychromy in Ancient Greece