Abstract The Terramare are archaeological sites which developed in the Po plain (Northern Italy) from the Middle Bronze age up to the Late Bronze age (XVI - XII centuries B.C.). During that period the Po plain was intensively inhabited and the Terramare culture had an heavy impact on the environment, leading to the first systematic deforestation of the area. While the strict relation between Terramare and water courses was already stressed out by XIX century scientists, it is now further confirmed by recent geomorphologic studies of the Po plain. The Terramare were surrounded by ditches fed by influent water courses. Spatial distribution of the archaeological sites and their connections with extinct water courses allow to separate palaeochannels which were active during the Bronze age from the later intricate palaeohydrological net as recorded by recent geomorphologic mapping of the Po plain. The archaeological excavation in the Terramara S. Rosa of Poviglio provides a deeper knowledge of the water management during the Bronze age. A number of large water wells were discovered at the southern fringe of the village which reach the acquifer consisting of a sand layer intercalated in the bedrock: through a system of small drains the rising water was distributed through the ditch surrounding the terramara to the periphery of the site. The terramara therefore acted as centre of collection and redistribution of water resources. These wells were in use from the late Middle Bronze age up to the Recent Bronze age but they were inactivated during the last period of the site. At that time, a number of wells were excavated inside the ditch in order to reach a deeper acquifer. This circumstance may indicate a local drop of the water table related to a dry period, which could be not unrelated to the final abandonment of the site. Key-words: Holocene, palaeohidrografy, Bronze Age, terramare.

Hydraulic systems in the Bronze Age: a multidisciplinary approach / M. Cremaschi, C. Pizzi - In: Proceedings of 37th International Symposium on Archaeometry / [a cura di] I. Turbanti Memmi. - [s.l] : Springer Publishing, 2010.

Hydraulic systems in the Bronze Age: a multidisciplinary approach

M. Cremaschi
Primo
;
C. Pizzi
Ultimo
2010

Abstract

Abstract The Terramare are archaeological sites which developed in the Po plain (Northern Italy) from the Middle Bronze age up to the Late Bronze age (XVI - XII centuries B.C.). During that period the Po plain was intensively inhabited and the Terramare culture had an heavy impact on the environment, leading to the first systematic deforestation of the area. While the strict relation between Terramare and water courses was already stressed out by XIX century scientists, it is now further confirmed by recent geomorphologic studies of the Po plain. The Terramare were surrounded by ditches fed by influent water courses. Spatial distribution of the archaeological sites and their connections with extinct water courses allow to separate palaeochannels which were active during the Bronze age from the later intricate palaeohydrological net as recorded by recent geomorphologic mapping of the Po plain. The archaeological excavation in the Terramara S. Rosa of Poviglio provides a deeper knowledge of the water management during the Bronze age. A number of large water wells were discovered at the southern fringe of the village which reach the acquifer consisting of a sand layer intercalated in the bedrock: through a system of small drains the rising water was distributed through the ditch surrounding the terramara to the periphery of the site. The terramara therefore acted as centre of collection and redistribution of water resources. These wells were in use from the late Middle Bronze age up to the Recent Bronze age but they were inactivated during the last period of the site. At that time, a number of wells were excavated inside the ditch in order to reach a deeper acquifer. This circumstance may indicate a local drop of the water table related to a dry period, which could be not unrelated to the final abandonment of the site. Key-words: Holocene, palaeohidrografy, Bronze Age, terramare.
Settore GEO/02 - Geologia Stratigrafica e Sedimentologica
Settore L-ANT/01 - Preistoria e Protostoria
2010
Book Part (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/167590
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