Budapest Régiségei 36. (2002) – In memoriam Rózsa Kalicz-Schreiber (1929-2001)
Aspes, Alessandra - Fasani, Leone - Visentini, Paola: The late neolithic and the early metal age in Northern Italy = Észak-Itália a késői neolitikumban és a korai fémkorban 175-190
BUDAPEST RÉGISÉGEI XXXVI. 2002. ALESSANDRA ASPES - LEONE FASANI - PAOLA VISENTINI THE LATE NEOLITHIC AND THE EARLY METAL AGE IN NORTHERN ITALY 1 THE END OF THE NEOLITHIC Aspects of late Neolithic in Northern Italy in the Adriatic and Alpine Po Basin areas will be dealt with here which are chronologically between the middle of the V millennium and the second half of the III millennium B.C. 2 . In general, this period appears to be marked by a slow disintegration, the work of western influences, of a homogenous cultural structure, the Square Mouthed Pottery Culture, and the spread of a new phase linked to metallurgy. The general scarcity of information and the heterogeneity of the documentation presently available makes it quite difficult to identify in detail the cultural processes which effected the study area during the period being investigated. On the basis of data made available from recent research 3 the third style of Square Mouthed Pottery Culture is confirmed characterised by decorative syntax of impressions and incisions and a flake lithic industry (Fig. 1). it is found between 4400 and 4360 B.C., 4 in a reduced area, in comparison to that embraced by the meander-spiral style (the second style of the Square Mouthed Pottery Culture), which includes western Friuli, the Trento area, western Veneto and southern Lombardy In this phase an increase in contact with the transalpine world is observed, in particular with the TThis article has been written with the aid of M.U.R.S.T. (National project: "Origin and Evolution of the Human Peopling in Italy: Paleobiology, Behaviour and Subsistence Strategies", Operative Unit MM05035439-006). The authors are very grateful to prof. L.H. Barfield for revising the original English text. 2 Unless otherwise stated all the dates are given as a calibrated radio metric chronology The calibration of each measurement was carried out according to the INTCAL 98 curve selecting the intervals at 1 sigma and with the highest fraction of probability (STUIVER 1988). 3 This cultural phase may presently count on the recent research carried out at Isera La Torretta (Trento), at Gazzo Veronese-Scolo Gelmina (Verona), at Carrara S. Giorgio-Maserà (Padua) and at Bannia-Palazzine di Sopra (Pordenone). 4 While waiting for new radiocarbon measurements, the chronological collocation of this aspect is defined on the basis of radiometric dating from the Isera La Torretta I (Trento) (PEDROTTI 1986) and from some measurements carried out on charcoal from Bánnia Palazzine di Sopra (Pordenone) (VISENTINI in press): GrN-25736 5880+110 BP; GrN-22172 5870±90 BP; GrN-22834 5630±90 BP; GrN22835 5600±90 BP; GrN-22833 5600±80 BP; GrN-22832 5580±90 BP; GrN-22836 5560+80 BP; GrN-25996 5240+110 BP; ETH-12494 5440+55 BP; ETH-12495 5580±65 BP; ETH-12496 5570+55 BP The chronological range identified is the result of a statistic re-elaboration with OxCal 2.18. Rossen Culture, and the Peninsular Culture, specifically with the Ripoli Culture in its final period. These contacts may be traced by the appearance of fragments of ceramics which have been imported or reworked locally the decoration of which may be referred generically to the above mentioned cultures. A similar process may also be recognised for the S.M.P of Isolino faciès in an area which includes western Lombardy the Canton of Ticino and Piedmont. During the last centuries of the V rnillenniurn B.C. an early diffusion of the southern French Chassey took place in western Liguria. This culture was superimposed on local manifestations of the meander-spiral style. 5 This arrival is marked at the Arene Candide by a radiocarbon dating, which places this phenomenon within a chronological range from 4250 to 4040 B.C. 6 Chassey sites are found in Piedmont, Lombardy and in Emilia (Fig. 2). In particular, rather exceptional structures within the Italian panorama have been found at S. Andrea di Travo (PC), a station situated on an alluvial terrace on the left bank of the river Trebbia. They consist of some huts, traces of a probable palisade, of wells and pit ovens (Fig. 3)7 Chassey aspects may also be recognised in the préalpine area of Lombardy where they contribute substantially to the formation of the Lagozza Culture. These relationships appear to be evident in the stratigraphic series identified at Isolino di Varese, where below the Lagozza layers, there are levels defined in time as being proto-Lagozza, characterised by Chassey elements, such as multitubular handles (anse multiple a cartuccera) 8 Aspects of Lagozza are spread eastwards giving rise to mixed contexts due to reciprocal exchange of elements between the Lagozza Culture and the third style of Square Mouthed Pottery Culture. Within the limits of this process, the territories of Bergamo and Brescia seem to suggest a partially different situation due to the presence of north-alpine influences which may be referred to the emanation of the sphere of the Epi-Rössen Culture. These influences may be recognised in the ceramics decorated SBACOLINI 1998 6 This date is B-60700 5320+70 BP which comes from layer 10-9H. (MACCi 1997) 7 BERNABÖ BREA 1994; BERNABO BREA 1998-1999; BERNABO BREA 2000 8QJERRESCHI 1967; GUERRESCHI 1976-1977; BACOLINI 1984; ODONE 1998. 175
