Claudio Cavazzuti | Università di Bologna (original) (raw)

Papers by Claudio Cavazzuti

Studi in onore di Andrea Cardarelli, 2024

The terramara of Rovere di Caorso is located in the plain area of Piacenza, close to the Chiavenn... more The terramara of Rovere di Caorso is located in the plain area of Piacenza, close to the Chiavenna river and is known since the late 19th century’s
excavations carried out by Luigi Scotti, who identified a perimetral structure and collected exceptional finds, now preserved at the Museum of
Piacenza. A new rescue excavation conducted during 2022 and 2023 in the northernmost sector of th village has confirmed the topographic position of the Bronze Age site and the presence of the ditch that surrounds the settlement, at least in the investigated area. Despite modern disturbance due to agricultural works and marna quarries, part of the stratigraphy was still preserved. Archaeological layers yielded numerous postholes, plausibly related to dwellings, at least one pottery kiln, pottery fragments, spinning and weaving implements, bronzes and stone moulds used for metal casting. All the materials found in this peripheral area of the settlement can be dated to the Middle Bronze Age 3, and predominantly to the Recent Bronze Age. From a cultural perspective, pottery and pin types clearly indicate a strong influence from Liguria, Piedmont and western Lombardy. Considering that Middle Bronze Age materials recovered by Scotti more than one century ago included typical models of the Terramare of the Central Po plain, we hypothesize that the western district of the “Terramare system” (Cardarelli) was likely involved in a process of significant change of the network at the beginning of the Recent Bronze Age.

Studi in onore di Andrea Cardarelli, 2024

In this paper, we analyse the Tumulus A, the largest among the Early Bronze Age burial structures... more In this paper, we analyse the Tumulus A, the largest among the Early Bronze Age burial structures discovered in 2008 in the outskirts of Parma. The Tumulus A differs from the surrounding smaller tombs for its dimension (26 m in diameter), the deep central chamber covered by a pile of pebbles, the apparently non-regular arrangement of post holes and
the low mound. The mound was created using material extracted from the central pit and the perimeter ditch, and by piling up part of the soil. The structure also includes the largest number of inhumated individuals: in
addition to the central grave, attributable to a 35-50 years old male and damaged by looting, five other adults were deposed in the perimeter ditch, and some children graves were buried in the body of the mound. Faunal
and ceramic depositions were also found in both the ditch and the mound. Two new radiometric dates pointing to the 20th-19th century BC confirm the chronology previously suggested by artefact typology.

Studi in onore di Andrea Cardarelli, 2024

In this paper we discuss several bioarchaeological aspects of the individuals buried in the Early... more In this paper we discuss several bioarchaeological aspects of the individuals buried in the Early Bronze Age funerary complex of Sant’Eurosia, in the territory of Parma. The integrated analysis of
osteological, isotopic and genetic data enabled a detailed reconstruction of diet, mobility, kinship and biodemography of the community. The Tumulus A, the largest and most structured of the whole cemetery, emerges for a stronger presence of adult males and the widespread mobility of the individuals, although presumably at a local scale. Despite apparent inequalities suggested by different depositional patterns, diet seems quite homogeneous among the various burials, and
sex/age classes. aDNA analysis suggests that the group was rather differentiated genetically, in particular as regard to maternal lines. This indicates a clear tendency to female exogamy, also corroborated by low rates of endogamy.

Studi in onore di Andrea Cardarelli, 2024

In this paper we discuss the body of evidence related to secondary metallurgy in the framework of... more In this paper we discuss the body of evidence related to secondary
metallurgy in the framework of the Middle and Recent Bronze
Age sites in Emilia (about 1650-1150 BCE). First, we present
distribution maps of bronz ingots and other implements used in the manufacturing process, such as stone moulds, ceramic crucibles, and blowpipes/tuyères; subsequently, we analyse structures/areas devoted
to metal casting that were found at Gaggio di Castelfranco, Montale and Beneceto-Forno del Gallo.The results show that structures and/or implements are attested in almost all settlements in which research was sufficiently extended. The metal workshops were, therefore, widespread
across the various territorial districts, although some sites can be recognised, among the best known, in which production could have been more consistent, such as Santa Rosa di Poviglio and Beneceto-Forno del Gallo.

Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche, 2024

The Late Bronze Age Central Lombardy Plain is a subject of great research interest, but its cul... more The Late
Bronze Age Central Lombardy Plain is a subject of great research interest,
but its cultural characteristics are still to some extent unclear. This is due to the scarcity of known contexts, both settlement and funerary, which for many years limited the possibilities of interpretation and a general archaeological synthesis. This work focuses on a small cremation cemetery investigated by the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Lombardia in the municipality of Antegnate, province of Bergamo, during construction work on the A35 highway (BreBeMi). Represented by 14 inhumations and 4 accessory pits, the cemetery reveals aspects of great interest, both in terms of funerary ritual and material culture. The incineration rite was carried out in well-constructed shaft tombs, filled with river pebbles, and the urn was often covered by a bowl placed upside-down. In no case were remains of metal grave goods inside the urns. The study of the bone remains, when preserved, revealed similarities with the ritual used in the Terramare culture, which involved the careful washing of human remains, separated very precisely from the pyre residuals. Another significant data is the high incidence of multiple burials, an element that seems to find comparisons in the context of European Late Bronze Age urnfields. Through the study of material culture, short- and long-distance multidirectional influences were identified in the ceramic typology of the Antegnate necropolis. The former make it possible to identify aspects of commonality with the productions of the Scamozzina-Canegrate group to the west, and also with the Terramare area to the east, in an unprecedented framework of bi-directional contacts that had hitherto been almost impossible to identify in the archaeological record. As far as long-distance contacts are concerned, the line of connection that linked this part of the Po Valley to the urnfield culture of the middle Danube area seems clear, in a framework of mobility and exchange that fits well with recent interpretative models of the Late Bronze Age in Europe and Italy. The burial ground of Antegnate therefore allows us to take a decisive step towards the recognition of a new central Lombardy Bronze Age cultural group, and towards a better understanding of the complex framework of links and contacts that must have animated this part of northern Italy in a European and Mediterranean context.

Heritage, 2024

The Selvicciola necropolis is a large burial site dated to the Copper Age, located on the mid-Tyr... more The Selvicciola necropolis is a large burial site dated to the Copper Age, located on the mid-Tyrrhenian side of Central Italy, in the Fiora river valley. Despite post-depositional disturbances, 32 prehistoric tombs were found, generally in a good state of preservation, with a total number of 119 individuals identified. In the present study, radiocarbon and stable isotope measurements on bone collagen are combined with skeletal data for 71 of these individuals. We aim to investigate possible changes in food practices and burial patterns throughout time. In detail, the results allowed us to define a timeframe for the use of the cemetery of at least 2000 years, with the two most ancient individuals found in tomb 17 and dated to around 3950 cal BC, assigning this a necropolis chronological investigation of the so-called Rinaldone culture. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis confirmed a predominantly agropastoral subsistence strategy for this prehistoric community. Although the plant intake consisted mainly of C3 species, we further discuss the fact that the stable isotope data suggest an increase in the consumption of C4 plants over time. The integration of radiocarbon and isotopic data with the skeletal evidence and material culture provides an interesting insight into the funerary world of this community, highlighting the importance of Selvicciola for the understanding of life in the Mediterranean at the transition between the fourth and the third millennia BC.

OCNUS, 2023

Here we present the preliminary analysis of the protohistoric settlement pattern in the area comp... more Here we present the preliminary analysis of the protohistoric settlement pattern in the area comprised between the middle-upper course of the Reno and Panaro rivers, stimulated by previous studies and by the results of new fieldwork at the Bronze Age site of Monte della Croce

Antiquity, 2023

Review of two books: Manuel Fernández-Götz, Courtney Nimura, Philipp W. Stockhammer & Rachel Car... more Review of two books:

Manuel Fernández-Götz, Courtney Nimura, Philipp W. Stockhammer &
Rachel Cartwright (ed.). 2022. Rethinking migrations in late prehistoric Eurasia. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 978-0-19-726735-6 hardback £85.

and

F. Saccoccio & E. Vecchi (ed.). 2022. Who do you think you are? Ethnicity in the Iron Age Mediterranean. London: Accordia; 978-1-873415-47-4 paperback £30.

PLoS ONE 18(10): e0293090, 2023

The Iron Age is characterized by an extended interweaving of movements by Celts in Europe. Severa... more The Iron Age is characterized by an extended interweaving of movements by Celts in Europe. Several waves of Celts from Western and Central Europe migrated southeast and west from the core area of the La Te´ne culture (between Bourgogne and Bohemia). Through the analysis of non-metric dental traits, this work aims to understand the biological relationship among Celtic groups arrived in Italy and the Carpathian Basin, as well as between local populations and Celtic newcomers. A total of 10 non-metric dental traits were analyzed to evaluate biological affinities among Celts (Sopron-Krautacker and Pilismaro´t-Basaharc) and Scythians-related populations from Hungary (Ta´pio´ szele), Celts from continental
Europe (Switzerland and Austria), two Iron Age Etruscan-Celtic sites from northern Italy (Monterenzio Vecchio and Monte Bibele), 13 Iron Age central-southern Italic necropolises, and the northern Italian Bronze Age necropolis of Scalvinetto. Strontium isotopes were measured on individuals from the necropolis of Monte Bibele to infer their local or non local origin.
Results highlight the existence of statistically significant differences between Celts and autochthonous Italian groups. Celtic groups from Hungary and Italy (i.e., non-local individuals of Monterenzio Vecchio and Monte Bibele) share a similar biological background, supporting the historical records mentioning a common origin for Celts migrated to the eastern and southern borders of today’s Europe. The presence of a supposed Steppean ancestry both in Celts from Hungary and Celts from northern Italy corroborates the hypothesis of the existence of a westward migration of individuals and genes from the Steppe towards northern
Italy during the Bronze and Iron Age, which contributed to the biological variability of pre-Celtic and later Celtic populations, respectively. Conversely, individuals from central-southern Italy show an autochthonous pre-Iron Age background. Lastly, this work supports the existence of Celtic migratory routes in northern Italy, as shown by biological and cultural admixture between Celts and Italics living together.

Scientific Reports

The Early Iron Age in Italy (end of the tenth to the eighth century BCE) was characterized by pro... more The Early Iron Age in Italy (end of the tenth to the eighth century BCE) was characterized by profound changes which influenced the subsequent political and cultural scenario in the peninsula. At the end of this period people from the eastern Mediterranean (e.g. Phoenicians and Greek people) settled along the Italian, Sardinian and Sicilian coasts. Among local populations, the so-called Villanovan culture group—mainly located on the Tyrrhenian side of central Italy and in the southern Po plain—stood
out since the beginning for the extent of their geographical expansion across the peninsula and their leading position in the interaction with diverse groups. The community of Fermo (ninth–fifth century BCE), related to the Villanovan groups but located in the Picene area (Marche), is a model example of these population dynamics. This study integrates archaeological, osteological, carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) (n = 25 human) and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope data (n = 54 human, n = 11 baseline samples) to explore human mobility through Fermo funerary contexts. The combination of these different sources enabled us to confirm the presence of non-local individuals and gain insight into community connectivity dynamics in Early Iron Age Italian frontier sites. This research contributes to one of the leading historical questions of Italian development in the first millennium BCE.

OCNUS, 30, 2022

This study focuses on the analysis of bronze finds and other objects employed in metallurgical ac... more This study focuses on the analysis of bronze finds and other objects employed in metallurgical activities from the Middle and Recent Bronze Age site of Solarolo-via Ordiere (Ravenna, Italy) investigated between 2006
and 2019. Materials were found both in Middle and Recent Bronze Age layers, as well as from trenches/survey, and include mostly pins and daggers with typological affinities with other bronzes in Romagna and,
more in general, in the central Po plain. Noteworthy is the presence of a golden spiral from the Middle Bronze Age 2 layers. The analysed artefacts also include metal fragments, bronze drops and implements involved in metallurgical activities, such as blowing pipes, tuyères and stone moulds, which imply casting and postcasting activities taking place at the settlement. Lead isotope analyses of 6 bronze samples designate the southern side of the Eastern Alps as preferential provenance of copper, except for one dagger constituted of copper plausibly originated from the ores of the Mitterberg area (Austria). Technological and experimental analyses suggest that the overall metallurgical production at Solarolo was not particularly complex. Objects were often re-used and re-adapted, as consequence of wear and fragmentation. Starting from the significant frequency of pins, we experimented the reproduction of two types of pins, documented in Northern Italy during these phases, namely “Cattaragna” and “con testa a rotolo” types. The experiments allowed a better understanding of the chaîne opératoire, from the production of stone moulds to the final refining of the surfaces.

Nature Communications, 2022

The human microbiome has recently become a valuable source of information about host life and hea... more The human microbiome has recently become a valuable source of information about host life and health. To date little is known about how it may have evolved during key phases along our history, such as the Neolithic transition towards agriculture. Here, we shed light on the evolution experienced by the oral microbiome during this transition, comparing Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers with Neolithic and Copper Age farmers that populated a same restricted area in Italy. We integrate the analysis of 76 dental calculus oral microbiomes with the dietary information derived from the identification of embedded plant remains. We detect a stronger deviation from the hunter-gatherer microbiome composition in the last part of the Neolithic, while to a lesser extent in the early phases of the transition. Our findings demonstrate that the introduction of agriculture affected hostmicrobiome, supporting the
hypothesis of a gradual transition within the investigated populations

I resti scheletrici umani: dallo scavo, al laboratorio, al museo Né tutela né valorizzazione senza conoscenza, 2022

Funzionario archeologo del MIC, è in servizio presso l'Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia. Speci... more Funzionario archeologo del MIC, è in servizio presso l'Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia. Specializzata in Etruscologia e Archeologia dell'Italia antica, ha collaborato con l'Università "Sapienza" di Roma e ha lavorato come docente a contratto presso l'Università "G. d'Annunzio" di Chieti e Pescara, conducendo scavi e ricerche sul tema dell'archeologia funeraria delle popolazioni italiche.

I resti scheletrici umani: dallo scavo, al laboratorio, al museo Né tutela né valorizzazione senza conoscenza, 2022

The archaeological site of Salorno-Dos de la Forca (Bozen, Alto Adige) provides one of the rarest... more The archaeological site of Salorno-Dos de la Forca (Bozen, Alto Adige) provides one of the rarest and most significant documentations of cremated human remains preserved from an ancient cremation platform (ustrinum). The pyre area, located along the upper Adige valley, is dated to the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1150-950 BCE) and has yielded an unprecedented quantity of cremated human remains (about 63.5 kg), along with burnt animal bone fragments, shards of pottery, and other grave goods made in bronze and animal bone/antler. This study focuses on the bioanthropological analysis of the human remains and discusses the formation of the unusual burnt deposits at Salorno through comparisons with modern practices and protohistoric and contemporaneous archaeological deposits. The patterning of bone fragmentation and commingling was investigated using spatial data recorded during excavation which, along with the bioanthropological and archaeological data, are used to model and test two hypotheses: Salorno-Dos de la Forca would be the result of A) repeated primary cremations left in situ; or B) of residual material remaining after select elements were removed for internment in urns or burials to unknown depositional sites. By modelling bone weight and demographic data borrowed from regional affine contexts, the authors suggest that this cremation site may have been used over several generations by a small community-perhaps a local elite. With a quantity of human remains that exceeds that of any other coeval contexts interpreted as ustrina, Salorno may be the product of a complex series of rituals in which the human cremains did not receive individual burial, but were left in situ, in a collective/communal place of primary combustion, defining an area of repeated funeral ceremonies involving offerings and libations across a few generations. This would represent a new typological and functional category that adds to the variability of mortuary customs at the end of the Bronze Age in the

Journal of World Prehistory, 2022

Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric t... more Archaeological research is currently redefining how large-scale changes occurred in prehistoric times. In addition to the long-standing theoretical dichotomy between 'cultural transmission' and 'demic diffusion', many alternative models borrowed from sociology can be used to explain the spread of innovations. The emergence of urnfields in Middle and Late Bronze Age Europe is certainly one of these large-scale phenomena; its wide distribution has been traditionally emphasized by the use of the general term Urnenfelderkultur/zeit (starting around 1300 BC). Thanks to new evidence, we are now able to draw a more comprehensive picture, which shows a variety of regional responses to the introduction of the new funerary custom. The earliest 'urnfields' can be identified in central Hungary, among the tell communities of the late Nagyrév/Vatya Culture, around 2000 BC. From the nineteenth century BC onwards, the urnfield model is documented among communities in northeastern Serbia, south of the Iron Gates. During the subsequent collapse of the tell system, around 1500 BC, the urnfield model spread into some of the neighbouring regions. The adoption, however, appears more radical in the southern Po plain, as well as in the Sava/Drava/Lower Tisza plains, while in Lower Austria, Transdanubia and in the northern Po plain it seems more gradual and appears to have been subject to processes of syncretism/hybridization with traditional rites. Other areas seem to reject the novelty, at least until the latest phases of the Bronze Age. We argue that a possible explanation for these varied responses relates to the degree of interconnectedness and homophily among communities in the previous phases.

Ocnus 29, 2021

In this study, we analyse and discuss some aspects of the production technology, function, and ci... more In this study, we analyse and discuss some aspects of the production technology, function, and circulation of the metal pins dated to the Middle and Recent Bronze Age (c. 1700/1650-1150 BC) in the territory comprised between western Emilia, Romagna, Verona lowlands and Lombardy plains. The remarkable number of pins (more than 1600), found in settlements and cemeteries since the 19th century, have been collected in a database, which allowed us to draw the distribution maps of 68 types. Through various experiments we investigated in detail the production process and identified which phases required more advanced knowledge/skills. Thanks to this approach, we were able to distinguish three degrees of complexity in the manufacturing process of pins, and to connect typological variability to technology. We therefore observed that some territorial districts, such as Verona lowlands, are characterized by a more significant presence of complex productions. By examining some of the 68 types, selected among those best documented and with a distribution that does not appear random, we advanced hypothesis on the areas of production and use of certain models, thus linking the aspects of technology to those of custom and mobility at the regional level.

Chemical Geology, 2022

We present a novel database of biological and geological 87Sr/86Sr values (n = 1920) from Italy, ... more We present a novel database of biological and geological 87Sr/86Sr values (n = 1920) from Italy, using literature data and newly analysed samples, for provenance purposes. We collected both bioavailable and non-bioavailable (i.e. rocks and bulk soils) data to attain a broader view of the Sr isotope variability of the Italian territory. These data were used to build isotope variability maps, namely isoscapes, through Kriging interpolations. We employed two different Kriging models, namely Ordinary Kriging and Universal Kriging, with a geolithological map of Italy categorized in isotope classes as external predictor. Model performances were evaluated through a 10-fold cross validation, yielding accurate 87Sr/86Sr predictions with root mean squared errors (RMSE) ranging between 0.0020 and 0.0024, dependent on the Kriging model and the sample class. Overall, the produced maps highlight a heterogeneous distribution of the 87Sr/86Sr across Italy, with the highest radiogenic values (>0....

Studi di Preistoria e Protostoria - 6 - Preistoria del cibo - 2020 - pp. 83-94, 2021

Contextual analysis of the Lazio diet and health in the early Iron Age (the IInd Latial period, ... more Contextual analysis of the Lazio diet and health in the early Iron Age (the IInd
Latial period, ca. X-IX cent. BC) – The Latium Vetus, the region between the Tiber and Circeo, offers particularly favorable conditions for a survey on the subsistence economy and on health and nutrition in the initial phases of the Iron Age. Compared to the neighboring regions – in particular Campania and Etruria – the former Lazio is characterized by its limited size, the homogeneity of the material culture and the founding principles of community organization: the articulation of community kinship groups and the centralization of political decision. Based on this very favorable archaeological situation, the study aimed to detect if the regional cultural
homogeneity could also be extended to the eating habits and at the community health status of this period. In this regard, four samples have been examined, characterized by an anthropological and archaeological good standard documentation: the necropolis of the district of Gabii – Osteria dell’Osa and Castiglione – and the groups of tombs of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the Forum of Caesar in the central area of Rome.

PLoS ONE

This study investigates to what extent Bronze Age societies in Northern Italy were permeable acce... more This study investigates to what extent Bronze Age societies in Northern Italy were permeable accepting and integrating non-local individuals, as well as importing a wide range of raw materials, commodities, and ideas from networks spanning continental Europe and the Mediterranean. During the second millennium BC, the communities of Northern Italy engaged in a progressive stabilization of settlements, culminating in the large polities of the end of the Middle/beginning of the Late Bronze Age pivoted around large defended centres (the Terramare). Although a wide range of exotic archaeological materials indicates that the inhabitants of the Po plain increasingly took part in the networks of Continental European and the Eastern Mediterranean, we should not overlook the fact that the dynamics of interaction were also extremely active on local and regional levels. Mobility patterns have been explored for three key-sites, spanning the Early to Late Bronze Age (1900–1100 BC), namely Sant’Eu...

Studi in onore di Andrea Cardarelli, 2024

Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche, 2024

Heritage, 2024

OCNUS, 2023

Antiquity, 2023

Review of two books: Manuel Fernández-Götz, Courtney Nimura, Philipp W. Stockhammer & Rachel Car... more Review of two books:

and

F. Saccoccio & E. Vecchi (ed.). 2022. Who do you think you are? Ethnicity in the Iron Age Mediterranean. London: Accordia; 978-1-873415-47-4 paperback £30.

PLoS ONE 18(10): e0293090, 2023

Scientific Reports

OCNUS, 30, 2022

Nature Communications, 2022

I resti scheletrici umani: dallo scavo, al laboratorio, al museo Né tutela né valorizzazione senza conoscenza, 2022

Journal of World Prehistory, 2022

Ocnus 29, 2021

Chemical Geology, 2022

Studi di Preistoria e Protostoria - 6 - Preistoria del cibo - 2020 - pp. 83-94, 2021

PLoS ONE

Paleodemographic studies aim at modelling past populations structure, size and biological dynamic... more Paleodemographic studies aim at modelling past populations structure, size and biological dynamics from ancient cemeteries. As fully recognized and debated, this discipline faces several practical and theoretical issues; one of the most challenging aspects is the invisibility, the paucity or - more rarely - the hypervisibility of infants and children in the burial grounds.
In fact, these frequent deviations from the expected mortality pattern for ancient pre-antibiotic populations strongly undermines the credibility of our paleodemographic estimates. Nevertheless, if addressed within a highly integrated approach of analysis, these evidences have the potential to disclose specific events and/or funerary practices, as possible reflection of social age definition and children personhood in ancient communities.
Some relevant examples from Italy will be presented: the issue of children representation among the terramare bronze age necropolises; the changing patterns of infants funerary rituals in Pontecagnano and Pithecusa (Iron age necropoleis, Campania); the comparison among Roman Imperial Age necropolises (Latium and Campania); the late antiquity anomalous burials of perinates in Peltuinum (Abruzzi); the presence of children in the late antiquity Santa Mustiola catacomb (Tuscany). These contexts are currently under study by an interdisciplinary approach combining historical and archaeological evidences with data on children mortality and morbidity.

31st of May 2018 at the British School at Rome

It is very well known that the appearance of large cemeteries, consisting of hundreds or even tho... more It is very well known that the appearance of large cemeteries, consisting of hundreds or even thousands of graves, coincides with the progressive adoption of cremation during the Middle Bronze Age (MBA2 - XVI century BC) and the dawn of the historical cycle of the Terramare Culture. In contrast to inhumations cemeteries of the same period, Bronze Age “urnfields” seem to show very standardized forms of burial, in terms of grave structure and typology of urns, and for the almost total absence of grave goods, especially weapons (fig. 1).
For the most part of the XIX and XX century, this characteristic feature of the Terramare urnfields, in addition to the paucity of archaeological data and methods of osteological analysis, led many scholars to underestimate the internal variability of these societies in space and time.
In the last decades many excavations have been carried out, in order to achieve a higher quantity and a better quality of archaeological data on cremation contexts in Italy and the results have been published. Moreover, the cremated bones of more than 1000 individuals have been recently investigated, from the Bronze Age necropolises of Casinalbo (MO; Cavazzuti, Salvadei 2014), Montata (RE, Cavazzuti, Salvadei 2014), Scalvinetto (VR; Cavazzuti et al. 2015) and Narde di Frattesina (RO; Cardarelli et al. 2015). Among these, Casinalbo may represent the most complete integration between archaeological and anthropological data (N=349).

Un ricordo di Loretana Salvadei e del lavoro fatto assieme sulla necropoli di Casinalbo durante i... more Un ricordo di Loretana Salvadei e del lavoro fatto assieme sulla necropoli di Casinalbo durante il convegno "Antropologia Archeologica" in memoria della celebre studiosa da poco scomparsa.

Ciclo di seminari di Bioarcheologia

European Journal of Archaeology, 2020

20. DANCKERS J., CAVAZZUTI C., CATTANI M. (eds.) 2019, Facies e Culture nell’Età del Bronzo Italiana?, Bruxelles-Roma: Belgisch Historisch Instituut te Rome, 2019

Questo volume è dedicato ad approfondire l’uso e l’interpretazione dei termini facies e cultura n... more Questo volume è dedicato ad approfondire l’uso e l’interpretazione dei termini facies e cultura nell’ambito degli studi di protostoria italiana, relativi in particolare all’età del Bronzo. Per le fasi più antiche della preistoria (Paleolitico, Neolitico, età del Rame), l’uso del termine cultura (ad es. “cultura della Ceramica Impressa” o “cultura del Vaso Campaniforme”) è reiterato e non si pone direttamente il problema di metterne in discussione l’utilizzo. Le tracce archeologiche di gruppi umani così remoti nel tempo restano relativamente scarse e non consentono di identificare con chiarezza le entità sociali, politiche ed etniche che, in un dato tempo e spazio, hanno prodotto una
certa cultura materiale. Per ragioni opposte, cioè per la sovrabbondanza di evidenze, il concetto di cultura è poco utile dalle fasi centrali dell’età del Ferro in poi. Conosciamo infatti i territori, i nomi delle città e i ‘popoli’ dell’Italia del primo millennio (Reti, Veneti, Etruschi, Latini, etc.), grazie alle fonti scritte ad essi contemporanee o successive.
Il problema si pone per il periodo intermedio, l’età del Bronzo (2200-950 a.C.), circa 1200 anni che hanno lasciato un’enorme quantità di resti archeologici, ma nessuna epigrafe, nessun testo, nessun ‘nome’ di individuo o gruppo umano, obbligando perciò noi ad affibbiare etichette artefatte a tali gruppi sulla base dell’areale di distribuzione di materiali (ad es. “facies appenninica”), di un tipo di rito funerario (“cultura dei campi d’urne”) o di una tipologia di insediamenti (“facies dei castellieri”).
Nella letteratura scientifica, così come nelle opere di divulgazione al pubblico, i termini facies e cultura sono spesso presentati come unità di analisi, più o meno esplicitamente intesi come veri e propri attori storici. Il loro frequente utilizzo acritico ha finito per influenzare molto del nostro modo di vedere il secondo millennio a.C. e di interpretare le nuove evidenze che emergono via via dagli scavi archeologici. Per questo motivo si ritiene necessario aprire un dibattito sul loro significato.
In questo volume, archeologi di varie parti d’Italia esprimono apertamente che cosa intendono con questi concetti, illustrandoli dal punto di vista teorico, storiografico e attraverso casi di studio dell’età del Bronzo italiana. Le questioni principali si possono così riassumere: si possono individuare per questo periodo culture monolitiche ben delineate o consideriamo superata l’idea di entità con confini netti? È necessario combinare le distribuzioni di indicatori archeologici in
entità regionali? Qual è il legame con il concetto tassonomico di ‘tipo’? Può la condivisione di un tipo indicare identità radicate, raggruppamenti sociali o suggerisce invece contatti superficiali fra comunità?
Riflettendo criticamente su queste e altre domande, potremo capire meglio qual è lo stato dell’arte su questo importante aspetto del modo tradizionale di affrontare lo studio dell’età del Bronzo in Italia, e più in generale in Europa.
Il volume è diviso in due sezioni principali. Dopo un’introduzione generale al problema, una prima parte “Storia, teoria e metodo” comprende alcuni contributi storiografici mirati a chiarire perché
questi termini vengono usati e come il loro uso e interpretazione siano intimamente legati con il concetto di tipo. In altri contributi nella stessa parte la tradizionale impostazione tipologica viene confrontata dialetticamente con i risultati degli approcci più moderni (archeologica sperimentale, archeometria, analisi GIS, etc.).
Avendo indicato degli approcci alternativi, o supplementari a quello tradizionale, si torna nella seconda parte alla situazione attuale degli studi nelle varie regioni italiane. Coprendo geograficamente l’arco alpino, la penisola e le isole, questi contributi permetteranno di valutare l’impatto attuale di questi concetti e le strade possibili da prendere nel futuro prossimo.

As biogeochemical applications in archaeology have increased dramatically over the years, isotopi... more As biogeochemical applications in archaeology have increased dramatically over the years, isotopic studies are being used to address a wide range of questions related to prehistoric human (and animal) behaviour. Larger, multi-isotope and multi-site/cemetery datasets have shifted the focus from site-level analyses to much broader narratives related to trade patterns, subsistence strategies, migration, and social organization. These studies are often collaborative, multidisciplinary, and integrated with several other lines of data (such as
aDNA, skeletal data, material culture, radiocarbon dating, etc.). This integration of scientific techniques at large scales has been associated with a ‘Third Scientific Revolution’ in the field of Archaeology whereby theoretical paradigms (i.e, processual and post-processual approaches) may be reexamined and reimagined.
In this session we invite papers that reflect on the ways that isotopic studies are currently being used in archaeological interpretations and narratives in Eurasian prehistory. Specifically, we seek studies that have used isotopic data to go beyond local versus non-local
dichotomies, and either generate or test models of prehistoric human behaviour at regional or multi-temporal scales. Questions to consider include: in what ways can isotope data uniquely contribute to our current understanding of human movement and interaction in the past? How have these data been successfully (or unsuccessfully) coupled with other lines of evidence?
What are the continued challenges and limitations to biogeochemical approaches? In what ways have isotopic studies impacted the theoretical orientation of Eurasian archaeologists?

European Association of Archaeologists, 2022

Moving into the Mediterranean-New Developments in the Research on Genetics, Mobility, Culture Cha... more Moving into the Mediterranean-New Developments in the Research on Genetics, Mobility, Culture Change and Languages The ongoing Third Science Revolution in Archaeology brought with it a resurgence of migratory models of culture and inquiry into language changes in the past. This led to calls for a holistic integration of archaeological disciplines with the natural sciences and for a responsible formulation of interpretations harnessing the parallel growth of theoretical frameworks, from network modelling to post-colonial thinking, to exceed simplistic narratives of mass migrations and population replacements. The Mediterranean region is rich in archaeological evidence for diverse interconnected cultures, settlement systems, and socio-political aggregations. The wide-ranging historical record attests to the presence of numerous languages and language families. The region has been relatively inaccessible to genetic research due to less favorable conditions for DNA preservation, however, recent methodological advances are bringing a wealth of new data. As with other, more thoroughly analysed regions of Europe, these data point to widespread changes in the genetic landscapes, associated with the Neolithic Revolution and, later on, the dispersion of ancestry related to pastoralists from the Eurasian steppes, which is commonly linked to the spread of Indo-European languages. Research on material culture and isotopes have revealed wide-ranging networks of interaction along maritime and land routes involving Europe, the Levant, North Africa, and regions beyond. These developments promise to help identify many of the mechanisms that drove the formation of the Mediterranean linguistic landscape. Biomolecular evidence can be utilized to evaluate existing and formulate new hypotheses on the movements, interactions and social organizations of linguistically defined, past groups. In this session, we invite participants from the disciplines of archaeology, genetics and linguistics to present research from prehistoric or early historic Mediterranean case studies, regional-scale theoretical frameworks for individual mobility, or methodological innovations for measuring who or what was mobile. We seek interdisciplinary contributions that engage with and lend inspiration to other disciplines.