Le anse con sopraelevazione a corna tronche e cave: diffusione ed evoluzione di un modello tra Bronzo Finale ed Età del Ferro

This paper focuses on the dynamics of formation and development of hollow horn-shaped handles, of which a typology is proposed that takes into account all the findings known up to now. It is a type of handle widely spread in the Etruscan area, especially in the early Iron Age. Through the analysis of the findings, we can assume that this form developed during the Final Bronze Age (FBA 2) in the area between Romagna, Marche and northern Tuscany, probably starting from some older models of handles with horns of the Recent Bronze Age. During the advanced Final Bronze Age (FBA 3) this model spread over a large area of central-northern Italy, from Veneto to Lazio, where new features were created such as a suspension arch placed between the horns. During the early Iron Age this type of handle was particularly widespread in northern Tuscany, from Volterra to Fiesole, and especially in the Etruria padana, particularly in the area near Bologna (Felsina). Here a new openwork model of arch is devised, which spread to the rest of Etruria, especially in the north. Starting from the end of the 8th century B.C. this vessel disappears in almost all of Etruria, with the exception of Campania and northern Tuscany, where it is further processed until the course of the 5th century B.C., as evidenced by the finds of Gonfienti. The study of the finds and the contexts of discovery allows us to hypothesize a function linked to ritual aspects for this type of vessel. This function could be at the origin of its widespread diffusion in most of the ancient Italy and its persistence for a long chronological period, starting from the Final Bronze Age and up to the beginning of the 4th century B.C.