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The autor present the result of the study of ceramic material from the excavation of Le Cerquete-Fianello (Maccarese, Rome), ascribed to the Middle Chalcolithic (3.550-2.920 B. C.). The site was found in 1987 and excavated from 1993 to... more
The autor present the result of the study of ceramic material from the excavation of Le Cerquete-Fianello (Maccarese, Rome), ascribed to the Middle Chalcolithic (3.550-2.920 B. C.). The site was found in 1987 and excavated from 1993 to 2002 by an interdisciplinary equipe directed by Alessandra Manfredini, Sapienza Università di Roma. Now days Maccarese is still one of the best known italian chalcolithic villages. In the excavated area was found a part of the living floor with five huts, pits, human burials and the intentional burial of a horse with two dog’s puppies. The study of the ceramics has taken in examination around 36.000 fragments. Departing from the raw material sourcing, the main aim of this research was to recostrustruct the choise related to the production of pottery vessels, not underestimating the implications of social character that are at the base of every production. The analysis of the spatial distribution of the vessels and the functional interpretation has allowed to formulate hypothesis about the destination of use of the structures. The hypothesis of a village organized for family groups has been so formulated.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In an impervious area under a protruding rock in 2012 Antonino Di Cicco identified some impasto and lathed pottery fragments. The area of the shelter was occupied by large boulders and stones, while a scant brownish soil yielded sparse... more
In an impervious area under a protruding rock in 2012 Antonino Di Cicco identified some impasto and lathed pottery fragments. The area of the shelter was occupied by large boulders and stones, while a scant brownish soil yielded sparse pottery fragments, flint splinters and human bones. Even after the removal of many boulders, an irregular hornet’s nest of stones, full of sinkholes, reappeared.
Typology of the pottery and a dating by C14 attest that the site was frequented from ABA to MBA3, but there are also unpainted and black painted turned fragments.
We found several anomalies: 1) absence of stratifications; 2) disordered arrangement of bones and artifacts; 3) mixture of ceramics from different eras; 4) high ratio between vessels and number of fragments and between NMI and number of bones.
The mixture of the materials suggests that, once deposited, they could then be manipulated and ended up inside the sinkholes. The fragmentation of the vessels and the disarticulation of the bones seem to presuppose some forms of “communion” and continuity between living and dead, while the placement of the materials seems to reach a “liminal” level, intermediate between life and death, and one more of sinking / reunion with an all-encompassing dimension.
Typology of the pottery and a dating by C14 attest that the site was frequented from ABA to MBA3, but there are also unpainted and black painted turned fragments.
We found several anomalies: 1) absence of stratifications; 2) disordered arrangement of bones and artifacts; 3) mixture of ceramics from different eras; 4) high ratio between vessels and number of fragments and between NMI and number of bones.
The mixture of the materials suggests that, once deposited, they could then be manipulated and ended up inside the sinkholes. The fragmentation of the vessels and the disarticulation of the bones seem to presuppose some forms of “communion” and continuity between living and dead, while the placement of the materials seems to reach a “liminal” level, intermediate between life and death, and one more of sinking / reunion with an all-encompassing dimension.
Research Interests:
The “Pietra delle croci” (Crosses’ Stone) is a large isolated limestone boulder, located in an area near some ancient “tratturi”. The first exploration was made in 2012, but only in 2017 the first drawing and laser-scanner reproductions... more
The “Pietra delle croci” (Crosses’ Stone) is a large isolated limestone boulder, located in an area near some ancient “tratturi”. The first exploration was made in 2012, but only in 2017 the first drawing and laser-scanner reproductions were performed. The boulder has a surface sloping towards W and largely occupied by engraved figures, obtained with fairly wide and deep grooves. The most recurring figures are crosses, simple or "enhanced", that is, with a perpendicular dash at the extremity of each arm. “they are undeniably Christian in this form, and can be dated to the modern age”. Simple crosses can be Christian, but also pre-Christian and also the crosses enhanced could be, at least in part, the result of modifications made by Christian people to pre-existing signs. Other figures seem prehistoric, particularly a lozenge and some circles with a cross inscribed, an eightradius wheel and a pair of horns. Two figures formed by a vertical shaft and two L-shaped arms are inserted in an oval contour and seem to refer to prayers, while a complex figure in the shape of a stele is difficult to interpret. There are several cup-marks, whose diameter ranges from a few centimetres to a dozen of the largest cup-mark, connected by a groove to four small cup-marks. Other cups are also connected by grooves. Finally, there are some cylindrical holes, a few centimetres wide and deep. All these cavities raise interpretative problems, but, unlike the other signs that have a semantic value, we believe that they have a functional motivation, in relation to the pouring and flowing of any liquid, such as blood. The circles with a cross inscribed and the eight-radius wheel are validly connected to the solar symbolism and most likely attributable to the proto-history, especially the Final Bronze Age. The boulder could serve as an excellent platform for cult practices, among which we could consider propitiation and / or thanksgiving ceremonies (for harvesting, hunting, transhumance), but also particular forms of initiation. Key words: Pietra delle croci, Lettopalena (Abruzzo), engraved figures, cup marks, grooves
The “Pietra delle croci” (Crosses’ Stone) is a large isolated limestone boulder, located in an area near some ancient “tratturi”. The first exploration was made in 2012, but only in 2017 the first drawing and laser-scanner reproductions... more
The “Pietra delle croci” (Crosses’ Stone) is a large isolated limestone boulder, located in an area near some ancient “tratturi”. The first exploration was made in 2012, but only in 2017 the first drawing and laser-scanner reproductions were performed. The boulder has a surface sloping towards W and largely occupied by engraved figures, obtained with fairly wide and deep grooves. The most recurring figures are crosses, simple or "enhanced", that is, with a perpendicular dash at the extremity of each arm. “they are undeniably Christian in this form, and can be dated to the modern age”. Simple crosses can be Christian, but also pre-Christian and also the crosses enhanced could be, at least in part, the result of modifications made by Christian people to pre-existing signs. Other figures seem prehistoric, particularly a lozenge and some circles with a cross inscribed, an eightradius wheel and a pair of horns. Two figures formed by a vertical shaft and two L-shaped arms are inserted in an oval contour and seem to refer to prayers, while a complex figure in the shape of a stele is difficult to interpret. There are several cup-marks, whose diameter ranges from a few centimetres to a
dozen of the largest cup-mark, connected by a groove to four small cup-marks. Other cups are also connected by grooves. Finally, there are some cylindrical holes, a few centimetres wide and deep. All these cavities raise interpretative problems, but, unlike the other signs that have a semantic value, we believe that they have a functional motivation, in relation to the pouring and flowing of any liquid, such as blood. The circles with a cross inscribed and the eight-radius wheel are validly connected to the solar symbolism and most likely attributable to the proto-history, especially the Final Bronze Age. The boulder could serve as an excellent platform for cult practices, among which we could consider propitiation and / or thanksgiving ceremonies (for harvesting, hunting, transhumance), but also particular forms of initiation.
Key words: Pietra delle croci, Lettopalena (Abruzzo), engraved figures, cup marks, grooves
dozen of the largest cup-mark, connected by a groove to four small cup-marks. Other cups are also connected by grooves. Finally, there are some cylindrical holes, a few centimetres wide and deep. All these cavities raise interpretative problems, but, unlike the other signs that have a semantic value, we believe that they have a functional motivation, in relation to the pouring and flowing of any liquid, such as blood. The circles with a cross inscribed and the eight-radius wheel are validly connected to the solar symbolism and most likely attributable to the proto-history, especially the Final Bronze Age. The boulder could serve as an excellent platform for cult practices, among which we could consider propitiation and / or thanksgiving ceremonies (for harvesting, hunting, transhumance), but also particular forms of initiation.
Key words: Pietra delle croci, Lettopalena (Abruzzo), engraved figures, cup marks, grooves
Il patrimonio archeologico italiano, uno tra i più rilevanti al mondo, viene spesso messo in luce da ritrovamenti fortuiti durante lavori di scavo per la realizzazione di opere edilizie e infrastrutturali. L’interesse del mondo culturale... more
Il patrimonio archeologico italiano, uno tra i più rilevanti al mondo, viene spesso messo in luce da ritrovamenti fortuiti durante lavori di scavo per la realizzazione di opere edilizie e infrastrutturali. L’interesse del mondo culturale a salvaguardare le nostre ricchezze ha portato, nel corso degli anni, alla nascita di una normativa giuridica che evitasse la perdita di queste testimonianze a causa del progresso urbano e infrastrutturale. D’altra parte però le esigenze di tutela hanno portato la classe imprenditoriale coinvolta a temere la possibilità di ritrovamenti archeologici, a causa dei ritardi e delle perdite economiche che questi provocano durante la realizzazione dei lavori. Lo scavo d’emergenza sembra quindi essere una scelta obbligata, un compromesso tra la conservazione delle memorie del passato e lo sviluppo urbano. Ma esso non asseconda nessuna delle due esigenze: uno scavo d’emergenza può provocare una enorme perdita di dati, a discapito dello studio storico-artistico della testimonianza archeologica e, nel caso di ritrovamenti di grandi dimensioni, non evita alle imprese coinvolte perdite di tempo e di denaro.
Questo sito nasce con l'intensione di dare un supporto valido a tutte quelle imprese che sono alla ricerca di uno strumento per l'indagine archeologica, che riduca al minimo costi e tempi di realizzazione delle indagini previste dalla legge n. 109 in materia di archeologia preventiva.
Questo sito nasce con l'intensione di dare un supporto valido a tutte quelle imprese che sono alla ricerca di uno strumento per l'indagine archeologica, che riduca al minimo costi e tempi di realizzazione delle indagini previste dalla legge n. 109 in materia di archeologia preventiva.
Il culto di S. Antonio Abate è attestato a Fara Filiorum Petri già dalla fine del XIII secolo, ne da testimonianza la più antica immagine di S. Antonio Abate, una statua lignea interamente priva di imprimitura, rappresentante il Santo,... more
Il culto di S. Antonio Abate è attestato a Fara Filiorum Petri già dalla fine del XIII secolo, ne da testimonianza la più antica immagine di S. Antonio Abate, una statua lignea interamente priva di imprimitura, rappresentante il Santo, in abito eremitico, che reca in mano il libro e il campanello, e stende l'altra mano, mancante, per reggere il bastone.