Papers by Claudio Cavazzuti
Embodied Identities: An Integrated Analysis of Anthropomorphic Urns, Grave Goods and Cremated Remains from the Etruscan Necropolis of Tolle
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology, 2026
Xosé-Lois Armada, Mercedes Murillo-Barroso and Mike Charlton, eds. Metals, Minds and Mobility: Integrating Scientific Data with Archaeological Theory (Oxford & Philadelphia: Oxbow Books, 2018, 191pp., 40 b/w illustr., 22 colour plates, 5 tables, hbk, ISBN 978-1-7857-0905-0)
European Journal of Archaeology, 2020
Book review of "Metal, minds and mobility
OCNUS, 2025
The fieldwork at Monte della Croce (Gaggio Montano, Bologna) is coordinated by the team of Prehis... more The fieldwork at Monte della Croce (Gaggio Montano, Bologna) is coordinated by the team of Prehistory and Protohistory of the University of Bologna in the framework of the research cluster Archaeology of the Uplands and in collaboration with other Universities and Institutions. The main objective of the project is to investigate upland economy, subsistence strategies, settlement and territorial organization during the second millennium BCE, by applying the most modern methods of excavation, documentation and analysis of the archaeological record in an interdisciplinary perspective. Here we present our approach, a synthesis of the stratigraphic evidence from the investigated sectors and a preliminary chrono-cultural assessment.
The Transformation of Europe in the 3rd millennium BC (eds. F. Nicolis, G. Kulcsár, V. Heyd) , 2025
The period of the Bell Beaker phenomenon (BBP) falls amidst a time of major cultural and genomic ... more The period of the Bell Beaker phenomenon (BBP) falls amidst a time of major cultural and genomic transformations in Europe spanning the 3 rd millennium BC. Preluded by the arrival of 'steppe-related' ancestry mediated through Corded Ware and Yamnaya-associated pastoralist groups, individuals associated with the BBP show -in addition -an increase in early European farmer-related (EEF) ancestry, which attests to a certain extent of local admixture. At the same time, BBP groups were the carriers of a further westward spread of 'steppe-related' ancestry. This is accompanied by distinct shifts in genomic ancestries and Y haplogroup profi les, resulting in nearly complete turnovers of Y haplogroup profi les in Central Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Britain and Ireland, the reasons for which are not well understood. Critically, these genetic changes contrast with the proposed western origin and chronological developments of the material cultural elements within the BBP itself. Here, we present and discuss the currently available archaeogenomic data associated with the BBP and compare it with preceding Late Neolithic and Copper Age groups as well as contemporaneous and subsequent Early Bronze Age (EBA) groups. Our synthesis ranges from broader population genetic affi nities to recent methodological advances that can elucidate cross-regional connections via identityby-descent analyses and parental background relatedness that informs on eff ective population sizes, and also includes the fi rst insights into kinship structures and social organisation. We showcase the new insights the archaeogenomic data off er by focusing on specifi c regions (Iberia, Northern Italy, Central Europe-Bohemia), but also address the ensuing complexities and challenges for the interpretation at a broader scale. The fi ner characterization of the main trends in changes of genomic ancestry are as important as the integrated regional aspects, involving the analyses of various 'outlier' individuals or individual life histories, all of which contribute to a more nuanced picture of the major transformations in prehistoric Europe.
Heritage 2024, 7, 3291-3309, 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.
Scientific Reports, 2025
The trajectories of human and object mobility in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC have long been a si... more The trajectories of human and object mobility in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC have long been a significant area of inquiry within prehistoric archaeology and over the past decade, aDNA and isotope analyses revealed a complex pattern of human migration, cultural admixture and exchange routes. While Northern Italy is clearly involved in this phenomenon, there remains a significant gap for the south of the country, generally considered peripheral to major exchange networks in this phase. Recently, two large cemeteries have been discovered in the hinterland of Mount Vesuvius (Acerra, Italy). They have yielded unprecedented numbers of exotic metal objects dating to 2400-1800 BC. Such items are extremely rare in Southern Italy, displaying typologies more commonly found across Northern Italy and Central Europe. Archaeological, bioanthropological and geochemical methods were applied to material from the cemeteries. Pb isotope analyses and metal artifact distribution modeling revealed long-distance terrestrial and maritime connections to Northern Italy, Continental Europe and the Western Mediterranean. Conversely, Sr isotope data indicate that these prestigious and exotic objects were deposited within a context of low human mobility. By integrating investigations into both metal and human mobility, this study emphasizes the extent and complexity of the exchange network in Southern Italy around 2000 BC.
Scientific Reports, 2025
The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (around 1500 BCE) in the Carpathian Basin w... more The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (around 1500 BCE) in the Carpathian Basin was parallel by drastic cultural changes in Central-Europe, which strongly influenced the dynamic of prehistoric Europe. The cultural fragmentation of the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE) Carpathian Basin was followed by a more homogeneous development at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (1500-1300 BCE), with the appearance of the Tumulus culture. In the beginning of this period, the long-used tell-settlements were abandoned, furthermore new pottery styles and metal types appeared. Whether these changes were caused by immigration, or a local adaptation to external influxes, has long been a matter of debate. Our study investigates this transition from the point of view of diet and mobility from several key-sites of Hungary. Our results show (1) low migration rates and a shift of migration trajectories; that (2) the beginning of the systematic consumption of Panicum miliaceum was from 1540-1480 BCE; that (3) the decrease of average animal protein intake was parallel by an increase of cereal consumption and a tendency to less unequal diet. Overall, our results shed new light on the dynamics of complex change in Bronze Age Europe.
Origini, 2024
Child burials provide significant data through which it is possible to investigate the rituals an... more Child burials provide significant data through which it is possible to investigate the rituals and ideology of ancient communities, as well as their demography and social structures. This study addresses these issues by analysing almost six hundred infant burials from cremation and inhumation
necropolises of Northern Italy dated to the various phases of the Bronze Age (c. 2200-950 BCE), using both published and newly generated data. The research reveals a distinctive development in infant funerary treatments and significant diachronic changes. From ritualized inhumations in the Early
Bronze Age, which include possible cases of ancestor cults and sacrificial practices, we observed a general ‘inclusive’ attitude towards children during the Middle and Recent Bronze Age. Significant variations exist, nonetheless, between the practice of inhumation and cremation. While children
under 2 years of age are present among inhumations, they are largely underrepresented among cremations. During the Final Bronze Age, we observed a gradual reintegration of some children into the urnfields, particularly those of high status, which seems to reflect the stabilization of social inequalities and rank inheritance. Physiological stresses and diseases were systematically examined to verify the change in health conditions, in connection to nutrition. Their drastic decrease at the onset of the Terramare cycle suggests the improvement of living conditions. Around 1200-1150 BCE, approaching the collapse of the Terramare, however, the dramatic increase of infant burials in some contexts, such as Casinalbo, suggests episodes of food shortage and epidemics.
Origini XLVIII, 2024
Child burials provide significant data through which it is possible to investigate the rituals an... more Child burials provide significant data through which it is possible to investigate the rituals and ideology of ancient communities, as well as their demography and social structures. This stud addresses these issues by analysing almost six hundred infant burials from cremation and inhumation necropolises of Northern Italy dated to the various phases of the Bronze Age (c. 2200-950 BCE), using both published and newly generated data. The research reveals a distinctive development in infant
funerary treatments and significant diachronic changes. From ritualized inhumations in the Early Bronze Age, which include possible cases of ancestor cults and sacrificial practices, we observed a general ‘inclusive’ attitude towards children during the Middle and Recent Bronze Age. Significant variations exist, nonetheless, between the practice of inhumation and cremation. While children under 2 years of age are present among inhumations, they are largely underrepresented among cremations. During the Final Bronze Age, we observed a gradual reintegration of some children into the urnfields, particularly those of high status, which seems to reflect the stabilization of social inequalities
and rank inheritance. Physiological stresses and diseases were systematically examined to verify the change in health conditions, in connection to nutrition. Their drastic decrease at the onset of the
Terramare cycle suggests the improvement of living conditions. Around 1200-1150 BCE, approaching the collapse of the Terramare, however, the dramatic increase of infant burials in some contexts, such as Casinalbo, suggests episodes of food shortage and epidemics.
E. Govi (a cura di), BIRTH Archeologia dell’infanzia nell’Italia preromana, 2021
In questo contributo vengono analizzati alcuni casi studio di sepolture infantili rinvenute negli... more In questo contributo vengono analizzati alcuni casi studio di sepolture infantili rinvenute negli abitati e nelle necropoli della prima età del ferro nel territorio di Felsina/Bologna.
Nuove indagini presso la terramara di Rovere di Caorso (PC)
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.
La struttura principale nel complesso funerario di via Sant’Eurosia a Parma: il Tumulo A
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.
Aspetti bioarcheologici degli individui inumati nel complesso funerario di Sant’Eurosia a Parma, con particolare riferimento al Tumulo A
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.
Le officine metallurgiche nei siti emiliani di Bronzo medio e recente
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.
La necropoli dell’età del Bronzo di Antegnate (BG)
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.
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Papers by Claudio Cavazzuti
necropolises of Northern Italy dated to the various phases of the Bronze Age (c. 2200-950 BCE), using both published and newly generated data. The research reveals a distinctive development in infant funerary treatments and significant diachronic changes. From ritualized inhumations in the Early
Bronze Age, which include possible cases of ancestor cults and sacrificial practices, we observed a general ‘inclusive’ attitude towards children during the Middle and Recent Bronze Age. Significant variations exist, nonetheless, between the practice of inhumation and cremation. While children
under 2 years of age are present among inhumations, they are largely underrepresented among cremations. During the Final Bronze Age, we observed a gradual reintegration of some children into the urnfields, particularly those of high status, which seems to reflect the stabilization of social inequalities and rank inheritance. Physiological stresses and diseases were systematically examined to verify the change in health conditions, in connection to nutrition. Their drastic decrease at the onset of the Terramare cycle suggests the improvement of living conditions. Around 1200-1150 BCE, approaching the collapse of the Terramare, however, the dramatic increase of infant burials in some contexts, such as Casinalbo, suggests episodes of food shortage and epidemics.
funerary treatments and significant diachronic changes. From ritualized inhumations in the Early Bronze Age, which include possible cases of ancestor cults and sacrificial practices, we observed a general ‘inclusive’ attitude towards children during the Middle and Recent Bronze Age. Significant variations exist, nonetheless, between the practice of inhumation and cremation. While children under 2 years of age are present among inhumations, they are largely underrepresented among cremations. During the Final Bronze Age, we observed a gradual reintegration of some children into the urnfields, particularly those of high status, which seems to reflect the stabilization of social inequalities
and rank inheritance. Physiological stresses and diseases were systematically examined to verify the change in health conditions, in connection to nutrition. Their drastic decrease at the onset of the
Terramare cycle suggests the improvement of living conditions. Around 1200-1150 BCE, approaching the collapse of the Terramare, however, the dramatic increase of infant burials in some contexts, such as Casinalbo, suggests episodes of food shortage and epidemics.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.