Papers by Andrea Di Renzoni
Preistoria del cibo. L'alimentazione nella preistoria e nella protostoria, 2021
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This paper focuses on the site of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Italy, and the use of the portable X-R... more This paper focuses on the site of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Italy, and the use of the portable X-Ray Fluorescence analyser (p-XRF) in the field, as a fast and efficient means of geochemical data collection and processing, without the need to remove a sample. The purpose of the exercise is to aid the archaeological enquiry and to attempt to tie archaeological deposits and their chronology with the natural bedrock (i. e. scoriae and lapilli). We conclude that throughout the Bronze Age phase of the settlement the chemical make-up of the archaeological deposits is drawn largely from the lapilli-rich deposits which were formed after the end of the Neostromboli period, punctuated with those drawn from the scoriaceous lava that preceded the lapilli phase at the end of the same period. On the other hand, the post-BA deposits are geochemically different, pointing to new eruptive events. Our on-going work aims to systematically assess and compare the information that derives from each of the d...
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Scientific Reports
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C.M. Coletti, S. Menchelli, U. Moscatelli (a cura di), L’Appennino centrale e le sue storie. Il territorio montano a Nord e a Sud della via Salaria dall’antichità ai giorni nostri, ed. Quasar, Roma, 2021
Ove possibile sono stati richiesti i permessi di riproduzione di foto e disegni, si resta comunqu... more Ove possibile sono stati richiesti i permessi di riproduzione di foto e disegni, si resta comunque a disposizione di eventuali detentori dei diritti che non è stato possibile contattare
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Annals of Geophisics, 2021
The paper addresses the long-lasting human presence on the island of Stromboli, an active volcano... more The paper addresses the long-lasting human presence on the island of Stromboli, an active volcano at the northern edge of the Aeolian archipelago, in the Southern Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. A conceptual model has been built to explore the phenomenon, it takes into account a series of aspects comparing Stromboli to other islands: their morphology, natural resources and geography along with the archaeological and historical data and, further, human attitude to volcanic environments, to risk and to insularity has been deeply explored. We propose a complex narrative where a combination of geological, socio-economic, historical, and psychological factors influenced people’s choices and that human presence is related more to the volcanic (and island) environment (and opportunities) than to volcanic activity.
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A seashell dump from the site of San Vincenzo (Stromboli, Aeolian islands, Italy) was studied usi... more A seashell dump from the site of San Vincenzo (Stromboli, Aeolian islands, Italy) was studied using an interdisciplinary approach to identify the type of molluscs and the formation process of the deposit, with the aim of reconstructing the most important cultural and social aspects of the meal. A large village occupied Stromboli during the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The village, at least during its later phases, had a modular topographical structure made up of rectangular enclosures with imposing stone elements at the corners. A large pit filled almost exclusively with marine shells was found near one of these stones and by an enclosure wall at the southernmost edge of the village. A sample of the deposit where the shells are embedded in their originally sandy matrix was extracted, investigated by means of CT scanning and reconstructed in 3D, confirming deposition after a single discard event. Radiometric, stratigraphic, typological and archaeometric data indicate that the meal was consumed contemporaneously with the beginning of interactions with the Mycenaeans, and discharged in a specific location possibly marking a major topographical transformation. The quantity of molluscs consumed was reconstructed experimentally by comparing the ancient record with the corresponding quantity of meat provided by contemporary animals collected as a specimen from the rocky shores of the island. Shell deposits of the Mediterranean Bronze Age have been rarely studied in such detail and this case study may reveal forms of ancient communal consumption of such food at the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age, and therefore important feasting contexts in which ancient communities materially interacted and exchanged information.
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Open Archaeology
We present the preliminary results of the ongoing investigation of the obsidian from the Bronze A... more We present the preliminary results of the ongoing investigation of the obsidian from the Bronze Age village of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, for the purpose of providing technological and typological characterization, and also provenance of the raw material, the latter with non-destructive p-XRF. Regarding provenance, the source of the raw material is likely to be neighbouring Lipari. It was transported to Stromboli and used mostly in a highly opportunistic manner and for the production of blade(let), non-bladelike tools (mainly scrapers) and micro bladelets. The obsidian distribution around the site shows concentration in both domestic and production areas.
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Open Archaeology
We present the preliminary results of the ongoing investigation of the obsidian from the Bronze A... more We present the preliminary results of the ongoing investigation of the obsidian from the Bronze Age village of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, for the purpose of providing technological and typological characterization, and also provenance of the raw material, the latter with non-destructive p-XRF. Regarding provenance, the source of the raw material is likely to be neighbouring Lipari. It was transported to Stromboli and used mostly in a highly opportunistic manner and for the production of blade(let), non-bladelike tools (mainly scrapers) and micro bladelets. The obsidian distribution around the site shows concentration in both domestic and production areas.
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Origini, 2015
The preliminary results of a research project on protohistoric metal economy are presented, and a... more The preliminary results of a research project on protohistoric metal economy are presented, and an analytical framework is outlined, for the study of weight systems in pre-literate contexts. Past research on weight systems acknowledged that weight values of prehistoric bronze objects and fragments are not randomly distributed, but tend instead to cluster in relevant concentrations. However, although promising in terms of research development, such studies have never been followed by a serious critical debate. The potential of former research was hindered by an overemphasized focus on exactness, often misconceiving the inherently approximate nature of real life measurements. In this article we introduce an alternative approach to the study of protohistoric weight series, which makes use of both mathematical tools and archaeological considerations. The method is tested on the sample of Sardinian Early
Iron Age bronze hoards.
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SCIENZE DELL’ANTICHITÀ 22 – 2016 Fascicolo 2, 297-313, 2016
Stromboli is an active stratovolcano that rises about 3 km from the seafloor up to an elevation o... more Stromboli is an active stratovolcano that rises about 3 km from the seafloor up to an elevation of 924 m and
the northeastern most island of the Aeolian Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The Bronze Age site belongs to the Capo Graziano facies (Early to Middle Bronze Age 1-2; 2300-1400
B.C.) and is located on a steep-sided plateau, a large orographic unit, about 6 ha wide, 40 to 100 m a.s.l. It
provides remarkable visual (perhaps also actual) control of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. This challenging,
provocative and fascinating island-scape is located in a strategic position, playing a fundamental role in the
Mediterranean trade network. The site was discovered in the ’80 and since 2009 has been investigated by our
team with an interdisciplinary approach and international field school. The excavation area, about 600m2, is
located on irregular sloping surface, which influenced the topographical organization of the dwellings with
huge stone walls that partition the settlement.
In the eastern area, a large terrace-wall sustains an area containing various structures. In the western area,
it is possible to recognize two main building phases, marked by the use of two different terracing walls.
Handmade burnished pottery was locally produced and imported. Several Early Mycenaean ceramics from
the Aegean (XVII-XVI cent BC) are also attested.
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SMEA, 2018
A seashell dump from the site of San Vincenzo (Stromboli, Aeolian islands, Italy) was studied usi... more A seashell dump from the site of San Vincenzo (Stromboli, Aeolian islands, Italy) was studied using an interdisciplinary approach to identify the type of molluscs and the formation process of the deposit, with the aim of reconstructing the most important cultural and social aspects of the meal. A large village occupied Stromboli during the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The village, at least during its later phases, had a modular topographical structure made up of rectangular enclosures with imposing stone elements at the corners. A large pit filled almost exclusively with marine shells was found near one of these stones and by an enclosure wall at the southernmost edge of the village. A sample of the deposit where the shells are embedded in their originally sandy matrix was extracted, investigated by means of CT scanning and reconstructed in 3D, confirming deposition after a single discard event. Radiometric, stratigraphic, typological and archaeometric data indicate that the meal was consumed contemporaneously with the beginning of interactions with the Mycenaeans, and discharged in a specific location possibly marking a major topographical transformation. The quantity of molluscs consumed was reconstructed experimentally by comparing the ancient record with the corresponding quantity of meat provided by contemporary animals collected as a specimen from the rocky shores of the island. Shell deposits of the Mediterranean Bronze Age have been rarely studied in such detail and this case study may reveal forms of ancient communal consumption of such food at the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age, and therefore important feasting contexts in which ancient communities materially interacted and exchanged information.
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Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche LXVII - 2017, 2018
ABSTRACT – New archaeological investigations in the Late Bronze Age settlement of Monte
Croce Gua... more ABSTRACT – New archaeological investigations in the Late Bronze Age settlement of Monte
Croce Guardia (Arcevia – AN): Seasons 2015-2016 – The Monte Croce Guardia settlement (Arcevia, AN)
is one of the most remarkable Late Bronze Age Italian sites. Being located on the top of a mountain (666 mASL) it is naturally defended and overlooks a wide portion of the surrounding territory, from the Adriatic coast
to the Apennine ridge.The orographic unit of the site is composed by two hills linked by a col, Monte Guardia,
the highest, and Monte della Croce.
The presence of archaeological remains is known since the end of XIX century, but only during the subsequent
century systematic researches were conducted. Several excavation campaigns have been carried out by the
Soprintendenza Archeologica delle Marche, from 1961 to 1995, under the direction of Delia Lollini and Mara
Silvestrini. The results of these researches showed that Monte Croce Guardia site was intensively settled during
the Late Bronze Age, and its extension reached at least 20 hectars. The archaeological investigations started
again in 2015, after a long period of interruption, under the direction of Andrea Cardarelli (Sapienza – University
of Rome), in collaboration with Marco Bettelli and Andrea Di Renzoni (CNR-ISMA). The first results of the
new cycle of archaeological investigations, together with the thorough reviews of the previous ones, allow to
better understand the complex architecture of inhabitations and other structures, together with the reconstruction
of large portions of the settlement organization. In trenches 1 and 2 several rectangular huts with a gable
roof have been found, and a large circular pit; the archaeological materials suggest a date in earliest phases of
the Final Bronze Age, even if few pots can be dated in late phases of the same period. In trench 4 a sequence
of three different huts were excavated: the earliest ones are similar in shape and dimensions to the structures
present in trenches 1-2. The last hut is smaller and has a different architecture and orientation. In the archaeological
layers belonging to this last structure a number of bronzes both undamaged and fragmentary have been
found, together with one or two stone moulds. These elements suggest the performance of smelting activities.
The presence of several small spools and loom weights, suggest also weaving activities. From a chronological
point of view we have very few elements for a date of the lower hut; the second phase hut can be easily dated
to early periods of Final Bronze Age; the third and last phase, represented by the smaller structure, on the basis
of bronzes and specific types of pottery can be dated to a final stage of Final Bronze Age.
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After WW II, land reforms implied the beginning of a dramatic and fast change in the Italian farm... more After WW II, land reforms implied the beginning of a dramatic and fast change in the Italian farmland. This
occurrence gave rise to systematic survey projects, among which the most significant appears to be the South Etruria
Survey of Ward Perkins. This project has been the model for a huge number of subsequent survey, carried out mainly
by foreign institutes with great availability of resources. Other significant researches have been carried out by Italian
individual archaeologists or groups of freelance researchers with great familiarity with the specific territories and archaeological
questions. These two traditions characterized the entire progress of the pre-protohistoric Italian landscape
archaeology. It doesn’t seem correct to identify the availability of resources as the only reason for the occurring of
differences, which is instead to be found in three parallel levels: 1) the methodological choices, whether depending or
not on the object of study ; 2) the object of research, i.e. specific situations or entire territorial districts; 3) the interpretive
categories of data.
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This paper explores the relationship between humans and their environment regarding water, in som... more This paper explores the relationship between humans and their environment regarding water, in some marginal lands
such as the Aeolian Islands, South Italy, by examining the role that water access and availability played in determining
the choice for the location of a settlement in the Bronze Age (BA). A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was used to locate
the areas where water would be collected naturally and to establish whether these areas were in the proximity of the
settlement. The case study chosen is the BA village of San Vincenzo on the island of Stromboli but water collection
practices are discussed for other Aeolian islands as well.
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VII AIAr - Congresso Nazionale di Archeometria, Modena February 22-24 2012
Si presenta la stru... more VII AIAr - Congresso Nazionale di Archeometria, Modena February 22-24 2012
Si presenta la struttura e il funzinamento dell’archivio digitale Archeobit appositamente disegnato
dal nostro gruppo di ricerca per l’archiviazione, la gestione, lo studio dei dati di scavo. L’archivio
è costituito da un data-base per l’immagazzinamento dei dati collegato ad una piattaforma GIS per
la loro gestione e analisi nel contesto spaziale. Il progetto fonda le sue basi su una struttura a più
livelli in cui il dato archeologico viene affrontato da diversi punti di vista, ognuno dei quali mirato
a precise aree interpretative.
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Uploads
Papers by Andrea Di Renzoni
Iron Age bronze hoards.
the northeastern most island of the Aeolian Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The Bronze Age site belongs to the Capo Graziano facies (Early to Middle Bronze Age 1-2; 2300-1400
B.C.) and is located on a steep-sided plateau, a large orographic unit, about 6 ha wide, 40 to 100 m a.s.l. It
provides remarkable visual (perhaps also actual) control of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. This challenging,
provocative and fascinating island-scape is located in a strategic position, playing a fundamental role in the
Mediterranean trade network. The site was discovered in the ’80 and since 2009 has been investigated by our
team with an interdisciplinary approach and international field school. The excavation area, about 600m2, is
located on irregular sloping surface, which influenced the topographical organization of the dwellings with
huge stone walls that partition the settlement.
In the eastern area, a large terrace-wall sustains an area containing various structures. In the western area,
it is possible to recognize two main building phases, marked by the use of two different terracing walls.
Handmade burnished pottery was locally produced and imported. Several Early Mycenaean ceramics from
the Aegean (XVII-XVI cent BC) are also attested.
Croce Guardia (Arcevia – AN): Seasons 2015-2016 – The Monte Croce Guardia settlement (Arcevia, AN)
is one of the most remarkable Late Bronze Age Italian sites. Being located on the top of a mountain (666 mASL) it is naturally defended and overlooks a wide portion of the surrounding territory, from the Adriatic coast
to the Apennine ridge.The orographic unit of the site is composed by two hills linked by a col, Monte Guardia,
the highest, and Monte della Croce.
The presence of archaeological remains is known since the end of XIX century, but only during the subsequent
century systematic researches were conducted. Several excavation campaigns have been carried out by the
Soprintendenza Archeologica delle Marche, from 1961 to 1995, under the direction of Delia Lollini and Mara
Silvestrini. The results of these researches showed that Monte Croce Guardia site was intensively settled during
the Late Bronze Age, and its extension reached at least 20 hectars. The archaeological investigations started
again in 2015, after a long period of interruption, under the direction of Andrea Cardarelli (Sapienza – University
of Rome), in collaboration with Marco Bettelli and Andrea Di Renzoni (CNR-ISMA). The first results of the
new cycle of archaeological investigations, together with the thorough reviews of the previous ones, allow to
better understand the complex architecture of inhabitations and other structures, together with the reconstruction
of large portions of the settlement organization. In trenches 1 and 2 several rectangular huts with a gable
roof have been found, and a large circular pit; the archaeological materials suggest a date in earliest phases of
the Final Bronze Age, even if few pots can be dated in late phases of the same period. In trench 4 a sequence
of three different huts were excavated: the earliest ones are similar in shape and dimensions to the structures
present in trenches 1-2. The last hut is smaller and has a different architecture and orientation. In the archaeological
layers belonging to this last structure a number of bronzes both undamaged and fragmentary have been
found, together with one or two stone moulds. These elements suggest the performance of smelting activities.
The presence of several small spools and loom weights, suggest also weaving activities. From a chronological
point of view we have very few elements for a date of the lower hut; the second phase hut can be easily dated
to early periods of Final Bronze Age; the third and last phase, represented by the smaller structure, on the basis
of bronzes and specific types of pottery can be dated to a final stage of Final Bronze Age.
occurrence gave rise to systematic survey projects, among which the most significant appears to be the South Etruria
Survey of Ward Perkins. This project has been the model for a huge number of subsequent survey, carried out mainly
by foreign institutes with great availability of resources. Other significant researches have been carried out by Italian
individual archaeologists or groups of freelance researchers with great familiarity with the specific territories and archaeological
questions. These two traditions characterized the entire progress of the pre-protohistoric Italian landscape
archaeology. It doesn’t seem correct to identify the availability of resources as the only reason for the occurring of
differences, which is instead to be found in three parallel levels: 1) the methodological choices, whether depending or
not on the object of study ; 2) the object of research, i.e. specific situations or entire territorial districts; 3) the interpretive
categories of data.
such as the Aeolian Islands, South Italy, by examining the role that water access and availability played in determining
the choice for the location of a settlement in the Bronze Age (BA). A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was used to locate
the areas where water would be collected naturally and to establish whether these areas were in the proximity of the
settlement. The case study chosen is the BA village of San Vincenzo on the island of Stromboli but water collection
practices are discussed for other Aeolian islands as well.
Si presenta la struttura e il funzinamento dell’archivio digitale Archeobit appositamente disegnato
dal nostro gruppo di ricerca per l’archiviazione, la gestione, lo studio dei dati di scavo. L’archivio
è costituito da un data-base per l’immagazzinamento dei dati collegato ad una piattaforma GIS per
la loro gestione e analisi nel contesto spaziale. Il progetto fonda le sue basi su una struttura a più
livelli in cui il dato archeologico viene affrontato da diversi punti di vista, ognuno dei quali mirato
a precise aree interpretative.
Iron Age bronze hoards.
the northeastern most island of the Aeolian Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The Bronze Age site belongs to the Capo Graziano facies (Early to Middle Bronze Age 1-2; 2300-1400
B.C.) and is located on a steep-sided plateau, a large orographic unit, about 6 ha wide, 40 to 100 m a.s.l. It
provides remarkable visual (perhaps also actual) control of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. This challenging,
provocative and fascinating island-scape is located in a strategic position, playing a fundamental role in the
Mediterranean trade network. The site was discovered in the ’80 and since 2009 has been investigated by our
team with an interdisciplinary approach and international field school. The excavation area, about 600m2, is
located on irregular sloping surface, which influenced the topographical organization of the dwellings with
huge stone walls that partition the settlement.
In the eastern area, a large terrace-wall sustains an area containing various structures. In the western area,
it is possible to recognize two main building phases, marked by the use of two different terracing walls.
Handmade burnished pottery was locally produced and imported. Several Early Mycenaean ceramics from
the Aegean (XVII-XVI cent BC) are also attested.
Croce Guardia (Arcevia – AN): Seasons 2015-2016 – The Monte Croce Guardia settlement (Arcevia, AN)
is one of the most remarkable Late Bronze Age Italian sites. Being located on the top of a mountain (666 mASL) it is naturally defended and overlooks a wide portion of the surrounding territory, from the Adriatic coast
to the Apennine ridge.The orographic unit of the site is composed by two hills linked by a col, Monte Guardia,
the highest, and Monte della Croce.
The presence of archaeological remains is known since the end of XIX century, but only during the subsequent
century systematic researches were conducted. Several excavation campaigns have been carried out by the
Soprintendenza Archeologica delle Marche, from 1961 to 1995, under the direction of Delia Lollini and Mara
Silvestrini. The results of these researches showed that Monte Croce Guardia site was intensively settled during
the Late Bronze Age, and its extension reached at least 20 hectars. The archaeological investigations started
again in 2015, after a long period of interruption, under the direction of Andrea Cardarelli (Sapienza – University
of Rome), in collaboration with Marco Bettelli and Andrea Di Renzoni (CNR-ISMA). The first results of the
new cycle of archaeological investigations, together with the thorough reviews of the previous ones, allow to
better understand the complex architecture of inhabitations and other structures, together with the reconstruction
of large portions of the settlement organization. In trenches 1 and 2 several rectangular huts with a gable
roof have been found, and a large circular pit; the archaeological materials suggest a date in earliest phases of
the Final Bronze Age, even if few pots can be dated in late phases of the same period. In trench 4 a sequence
of three different huts were excavated: the earliest ones are similar in shape and dimensions to the structures
present in trenches 1-2. The last hut is smaller and has a different architecture and orientation. In the archaeological
layers belonging to this last structure a number of bronzes both undamaged and fragmentary have been
found, together with one or two stone moulds. These elements suggest the performance of smelting activities.
The presence of several small spools and loom weights, suggest also weaving activities. From a chronological
point of view we have very few elements for a date of the lower hut; the second phase hut can be easily dated
to early periods of Final Bronze Age; the third and last phase, represented by the smaller structure, on the basis
of bronzes and specific types of pottery can be dated to a final stage of Final Bronze Age.
occurrence gave rise to systematic survey projects, among which the most significant appears to be the South Etruria
Survey of Ward Perkins. This project has been the model for a huge number of subsequent survey, carried out mainly
by foreign institutes with great availability of resources. Other significant researches have been carried out by Italian
individual archaeologists or groups of freelance researchers with great familiarity with the specific territories and archaeological
questions. These two traditions characterized the entire progress of the pre-protohistoric Italian landscape
archaeology. It doesn’t seem correct to identify the availability of resources as the only reason for the occurring of
differences, which is instead to be found in three parallel levels: 1) the methodological choices, whether depending or
not on the object of study ; 2) the object of research, i.e. specific situations or entire territorial districts; 3) the interpretive
categories of data.
such as the Aeolian Islands, South Italy, by examining the role that water access and availability played in determining
the choice for the location of a settlement in the Bronze Age (BA). A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was used to locate
the areas where water would be collected naturally and to establish whether these areas were in the proximity of the
settlement. The case study chosen is the BA village of San Vincenzo on the island of Stromboli but water collection
practices are discussed for other Aeolian islands as well.
Si presenta la struttura e il funzinamento dell’archivio digitale Archeobit appositamente disegnato
dal nostro gruppo di ricerca per l’archiviazione, la gestione, lo studio dei dati di scavo. L’archivio
è costituito da un data-base per l’immagazzinamento dei dati collegato ad una piattaforma GIS per
la loro gestione e analisi nel contesto spaziale. Il progetto fonda le sue basi su una struttura a più
livelli in cui il dato archeologico viene affrontato da diversi punti di vista, ognuno dei quali mirato
a precise aree interpretative.