1. Mobile elites at Frattesina: flows of people in a Late Bronze Age 'port of trade' in northern Italy
- Author
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Cavazzuti, Claudio, Cardarelli, Andrea, Quondam, Francesco, Salzani, Luciano, Ferrante, Marco, Nisi, Stefano, Millard, Andrew R., and Skeates, Robin
- Subjects
Bronze age -- Research ,Anthropological research ,Human migration -- Analysis ,Beef cattle ,Indigenous peoples ,Ports ,Strontium ,Anthropology/archeology/folklore - Abstract
Following a mid twelfth-century BC demographic crisis, Frattesina, in northern Italy, arose as a prominent hub linking continental Europe and the Mediterranean, as evidenced by the remarkable variety of exotic materials and commodities discovered at the site. Debate persists, however, about the extent to which migrants influenced the foundation and development of Frattesina. The authors present the results of strontium isotope analyses, which suggest significant migration to the site, particularly of elites, mostly from within a 50km radius. Among these non-indigenous people, the authors identify a 'warrior-chief, whom they interpret as representing a new, more hierarchical society. Keywords: Italy, Frattesina, Bronze Age, migration, strontium isotopes, Introduction While it is valuable to compare the movements of people and the trajectories of trade in prehistory, it is even more intriguing to investigate their reorganisation after periods of [...]
- Published
- 2019
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