 In the area several settlements of the Villanovian civilization were present in prehistoric times, and these were probably enlarged by the Oscans and subsequently by the Etruscans.Etruscan supremacy in Campania came to an end with the Samnite invasion in the latter half of the 5th century BC.About 424 BC it was captured by the Samnites and in 343 BC besought Roman help against its conquerors.