La formazione di Felsina/Bologna tra Bronzo Finale e prima Età del Ferro

This volume represents an extension and an arrangement of my PhD project, entitled "The origins and development of Etruscan Bologna: relations between the north-eastern area and the proto-urban center", as part of the PhD course “History and Archaeology. Studies on Heritage, Memory and Cultures” of the University of Bologna (Cycle XXXIII). The aim of the project is to understand the dynamics of the formation of the Etruscan city of Felsina/Bologna, in a chronological period between the FBA and the 8th century BC. The most debated aspects concern broad themes, such as the forms of population during the FBA, the consistency of the various villages that took part in the process, the relationships between the villages, the chronology and the modalities of the process itself. The interpretations that have been proposed are many and sometimes in disagreement with each other, because they are often based on incomplete data or deriving from outdated excavations and analyzes. For this reason, three unpublished or partially published contexts (Fiera, Via S. Donato/Caserma Battistini and Villa Cassarini) have been analyzed. Chapter I - THE FORMATION OF FELSINA: STATUS QUAESTIONIS The trends that during the Late Bronze Age will lead to an epochal change in the forms of occupation and managing of the territory and the communities have long been identified and discussed, in particular for the centers of southern Etruria. It was hypothesized that, at the beginning of FBA3, there was a process of overcoming the previous forms of population, with the abandonment of a large part of small villages that characterized the population of FBA1-2. At the same time the population tended to concentrate above the large plateaus, which will be the seat of the future Etruscan cities. This process must necessarily be declined from time to time according to the reference context, shows characteristics of organization and planning that can be clearly seen. In all this, the presence of deep socio-political changes was highlighted, which will lead in the subsequent phases to evident forms of centralization of power in the hands of the local aristocracy. In the history of studies, Felsina seems to present different dynamics. First of all, the Bolognese area seem to be depopulated during the FBA, so it has been hypothesized that the birth of Felsina should be related to the arrival of human groups from Etruria (the so-called "first colonization"). In recent years it has been hypothesized that the population at the base of the formation process of Felsina should be sought in a wider area, from the Apennines, to the lower Po plain, up to the delta area. Only at the beginning of the Iron Age (late 10th century BC) various small villages seem to develop in the area surrounding Bologna, while the occupation of the area where the city will rise was dated only from the beginning of the 8th century. It has therefore been hypothesized that the process of formation of the city began at that time, and lasted until the half of the same century. The people of the numerous oldest villages would have taken part in this process. These villages would have been abandoned in parallel with the urbanization of the area where Felsina was rising. Chapter II - RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE CHRONOLOGY OF THE BOLOGNESE VILLANOVAN Since the 19th century, numerous attempts have been made to propose relative and absolute dating of the Bolognese Villanovan. The main studies in this regard are those of O. Montelius, A. Grenier, J. Sundwall, P. Ducati, H. Müller-Karpe, O.H. Frey - S. Gabrovec and C. Morigi Govi. Nowadays, the most reliable work on the chronology of the EIA in the Bolognese area has been published by A. Dore, who has paralleled the relative chronology of Felsina with that of the Etruscan centers of Tarquinia and Veio. As regards the absolute chronology, thanks to the new scientific methodologies based on the analyzes at 14C it was possible to propose absolute dates for the phases of the EIA in the Tyrrhenian area, whose beginning was placed around the middle/third quarter of the 10th century. B.C. Some recent analyzes from the necropolis of Borgo Panigale, near Bologna, have shown frequentation already during the late 10th century. Thus, throught the analyzes on a group of materials found in the necropolis of Savena and San Vitale, in the villages of the Fiera, Caserma Battistini and in the area of Villa Cassarini, we can propose a new absolute chronology for the EIA in Felsina: - Villanovan I - 925 - 825/820 BC, divided into two sub-phases of similar duration (A and B) - Villanovan II - 825/820 - 770 BC; divided into two sub-phases of similar duration (A and B) - Villanovan IIIA - 770 - 750 BC; - Villanovan IIIB - 750 - 720 BC; - Villanovan IIIC - 720 - 680 BC. Chapter III – THE VILLAGE OF FIERA The village of Fiera has been known since the 1970s, when numerous findings were found in an area of about 15-20 hectares. The inhabited area was excavated between 1999 and 2006 in three distinct areas, and from 2006 to 2010 the relative necropolis of over 1300 tombs, partially edited, was excavated. The village stood on the top of a paleodox of the Savena stream and its life span dates back to the late 10th and mid/third quarter of the 8th century BC. In the central area (Centrale Termofrigorifera), two housing structures (Str. 3 and 4) with an elongated rectangular plan were found. The structures, set on post holes and foundation trenches, have been dated between the late 10th and the first half of the 8th century BC. Both show the presence of renovations of the construction system and had fenced areas of their relevance. In the most advanced phase of the village (half/third quarter of the 8th century BC), there are two elliptical structures on post holes (Str. 1 and 2) and numerous holes with traces of craft activities (horn and bone crafting). There are also two shallow wells, the first was built during the 9th century and the second was built in the first half of the 8th century BC. Many traces of the perimeter and defensive structures of the village were found in the N-E and N-W areas. In the first area a large wooden wall set on foundation piles and trenches and an rampart reinforced by the use of pebbles were found. In the N-W area, on the other hand, there is a large internal ditch and another rampart reinforced with pebbles, supported by large quadrangular poles. In general, the village seems to have arisen in the late 10th century; the internal housing structures are oriented according to the axes of the defensive structures and consist of houses with an elongated rectangular plan. In the advanced stage of life of the town there are elliptical structures whose use seems to be both domestic and artisanal, in particular linked to the crafting of bones and horns. Chapter IV – THE VILLAGE OF VIA S. DONATO - CASERMA BATTISTINI The village of via S. Donato - Caserma Battistini was excavated between 2006 and 2010 for an area of approximately 6800 mq. Like the village of the Fiera, the inhabited area of Caserma Battistini is located on the top of a paleodox of the Savena stream, which in the Iron Age must have flowed east of the inhabited area. The researches show the presence of different phases: • Phase 1 (RBA): in this phase several elliptical and quadrangular structures set on piles were built in the S-W corner of the excavation. The materials allow us to date the phase between the beginning of RBA1 and the beginning of RBA2. • Phase 2 (FBA3): in this phase we see a resumption of the human presence in this area, after a hiatus dated between the advanced RBA2 and the first two phases of FBA. In this period at least eight structures were built. They show an elliptical plan arranged on perimeter poles, with a gabled roof. These structures have mutually converging alignments. The materials of this phase have numerous comparisons both in the Veneto area and in the Cetona-Chiusi group of northern Etruria. • Phase 3 (EIA): phase 3 can be dated between the last quarter of the 10th and the middle/third quarter of the 8th century BC and can be divided into 3 sub-phases. - Phase 3a (last quarter 10th-9th century BC): in this phase the village was completely restructured and regularised. In the northern part of the area, impressive structures of defense and delimitation were built: two external ditches separated by a palisade, two other palisades, one of which has a hanging walwkay, and a wooden tower/forebuilding near to an access point. All these structures are made using wooden poles and foundation trenches. The internal area is divided by an N-S channel; in the western sector we found at least three huts with an elongated rectangular plan, similar to those of the Fiera, and three furnaces. The huts are oriented according to the axes of the perimeter structures. In the eastern sector a circular structure on poles was found; near the structure there are several clusters of holes filled by votive deposits, such as skulls and portions of animal bones, biconical vases richly decorated with bird-shape motifs, fibulae, pins, spools, spindle whorls and several fragments of burnt animal bones. The cult seems to focus on feminine and chthonic sphere. - Phase 3b (end of the 9th - first half of the 8th century BC): in this phase a cobbled road with an E-W trend was built in the central area. It was bordered by palisades. All new structures in this phase have been oriented according to this new alignment. Five new huts with a rectangular plan were built in the western sector. Two of these are the reconstruction of two older huts. In the east sector there are two large holes that contain waste materials from the votive area. Among the materials there are numerous spools, loom weights and some stoves, which confirm the presence of a chthonic and feminine cult even in this phase. - Phase 3c (mid-8th century BC): in this phase the area lost its residential connotation. The perimeter structures and the huts were demolished and many artisanal structures were built in all sectors, such as furnaces and amber processing areas. In the area six inhumation burials with poor grave-goods (only few fibulae and earrings) were also found, perhaps relating to people of low social status who worked in these craft activities. Chapter V – THE AREA OF VILLA CASSARINI The area of Villa Cassarini was excavated several times during the 1900s, first by E. Brizio, then by G. Gualandi. In this area there was a settlement dated between MBA3 and RBA, whose materials were found throughout the investigated area. During the 6th-5th century BC, the Acropolis of Felsina stood on this hill. The integral analysis of the FBA-EIA materials confirmed the presence of a phase datable between the 10th (FBA3) and the mid-8th century BC. Most of the materials of this phase are related to libations, such as bowls, cups and biconicals vases, all richly decorated. In particular, the so-called “N-shaped” motif is well present, realized in all the available techniques. This is a motif connected to the ritual sphere, because it derives from bird-shape motifs. During this phase there are three areas with traces of human activity. Two of these are distinguished by the presence of holes that contain dumped materials. The third area shows traces of lighting fires, materials linked to the ritual sphere, such as decorated vases, spindle whorls and miniaturistic vases, and two peculiar inhumation burials. The best preserved one has a clay cart, an animal statuette and numerous burnt animal bones placed around the body. Therefore, we hypothesize that between the 10th and the middle of the 8th century BC the area of Villa Cassarini was related to the ritual sphere, with religious activities carried out through the repeated lighting of fires and the offering of materials decorated with the “N-shaped” motif. This area might represent the common sacred area of the population of the various surrounding villages. In the second half of the 8th century the area was completely abandoned. Perhaps this abandonment can be related to the abandonment of the oldest villages and the concentration of people in the central area, where the unitary center of Felsina was being born. Chapter VI - TYPOLOGICAL AND DECORATIVE REPERTORY OF POTTERY In this chapter we present a typological repertory of the pottery found during the excavations of Fiera, Caserma Battistini and Villa Cassarini. Each shape of vessel is contextualized by a chronological and morphological point of view, in order to discuss the presence of a common pottery production. Chapter VII – THE BRONZE, AMBER, HORN AND BONE FINDS In this chapter we present a repertory of the bronze, amber, horn and bone objects found during the excavations of Fiera, Caserma Battistini and Villa Cassarini. Chapter VIII – THE DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE BOLOGNESE AREA BETWEEN THE END OF THE 10TH AND THE END OF THE 8TH CENTURY BC After the excavations of the 19th century in the urban area of Bologna, the scholars hypothesized that the typical Villanovan house in the Bolognese area was a hut with an elliptical plan with a lowered base, the so-called "fondi di capanna" (hut floors). For a long time this interpretation was accepted by all scholars. A re-reading of the 19th century excavations shows that most of these "fondi di capanna" can instead be interpreted as large holes with different and not always understandable uses. The excavations at Fiera, Caserma Battistini and in the other 9th-7th century BC villages in the bolognese area, carried out in more recent years, have instead shown the presence of huts with a rectangular plan, set on wooden piles and foundation trenches. In the villages of Fiera and Caserma Battistini there are two models of rectangular huts: the first with an elongated plan, the second wider. There are also three clusters based on internal dimensions: between 30 and 40 mq, between 70 and 90 mq and between 90 and 100 mq. In general, the villages show the presence of common construction techniques, which developed at the end of the 10th century and lasted until the end of the 7th century BC. Chapter IX – THE HUMAN PRESENCE IN THE BOLOGNESE AREA BETWEEN THE RECENT BRONZE AGE AND THE END OF THE 8TH CENTURY BC This chapter focuses on the human presence in the Bolognese area in a long span of time, starting from the phase of RBA until the end of the 8th century BC. • Recent Bronze Age (1300-1150 BC): in this period the area surrounding Bologna has shown the presence of many villages, both in the lowland area and in the Apennine, along the course of Reno river. Some of these lasted until the end of RBA/beginning of FBA, during a period of general depopulation following the collapse of the Terramare system. • Final Bronze Age (1150-950/925 BC): during the first two phases (FBA1-2) of this period the area surrounding Bologna was completely depopulated. In this period all settlements were located in Romagna (this cluster will eventually lead to the formation process of Verucchio) and in the western Apennine (near Modena and Reggio Emilia). The main route between central and northern Italy probably corresponded to the course of Secchia and Serchio rivers. During the advanced phase of this period (FBA3), the western Apennine area was depopulated, except the area of Bismantova. In parallel, we can see the resumption of the human presence in various areas of the southern Po plain, i.e. the so-called “Bassa modenese” (northern province of Modena), the delta area (settlementis of Podere Boccagrande and Valle del Mezzano) and in the area surrounding Bologna (Villa Cassarini and Caserma Battistini). These first settlements mark the beginning of the formation process of Felsina. • Villanovan I - IIA (second half/last quarter 10th – 9th century BC): in the first phase of EIA we can see a massive resumption of the human presence in the area surrounding Bologna. The village of Caserma Battistini is reorganized and expanded and the new villages of Fiera and Via Sante Vincenzi arose. The surrounding plain was inhabited by other smaller villages (Borgo Panigale, Ca’ dell’Orbo, Castenaso and Vigorso). In this period the area of Villa Cassarini, already occupied during the FBA3, became a ritual area. Around the mid 9th century BC, in the area of Bologna there was the Benacci necropolis, that is probably connected to another village, probably located in the area where Felsina will rise. • Villanovan IIB - IIIA (first half of 8th century BC): In this period we can see a massive expansion in the surrounding plain and in the Apennine area. In a brief span of time, a lot of minor villages arose along the course of the main rivers (Reno, Samoggia and Panaro) of the western area. • Villanovan IIIB-C (second half of 8th century BC): in this period all the older villages were abandoned or lose their residential connotation and became craft areas. The population of these villages was concentrated in the area between the Aposa and Ravone streams. This is the birth of Felsina as a unified center. The city carried on the process of management of the surrounding territory, that was inhabited by many new minor villages and settlements, in order to control the Po plain and the Apennine area, from the Enza river to the Santerno river. Chapter X – THE FORMATION PROCESS OF FELSINA IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW DATA In conclusion, we can assume that the formation of the center of Felsina was a long-time process. After a hiatus in the human presence (FBA 1-2), during the FBA3 in the area surrounding Bologna, the village of Caserma Battistini arose and the area of Villa Cassarini was inhabited again. At the same time, in the entire south-eastern Po plain we can see a resumption of the human presence, both in the “Bassa Modenese” and in the area near the Po delta. In parallel, the western Apennine area was abandoned and perhaps the population migrated in the Bolognese area. It is possible that this situation reflects the shifting of the main route from west to east, i.e. from the course of Secchia and Serchio rivers to that of Reno and Arno rivers. In fact, we can see that in this period the main inhabited areas in Veneto and in northern Etruria move from west to east. At the beginning of the EIA, we can see a massive increase of the villages in the area surrounding Bologna, for example, the rise of other two main villages near Caserma Battistini (Via Sante Vincenzi and Fiera). In parallel, the area of Villa Cassarini became a ritual area. In the mid-9th century BC the village of the Benacci necropolis and other minor villages in the surrounding plain were born. These data allow us to propose that in this period there was a political union between the main villages (i.e. Caserma Battistini, Fiera, Via Sante Vincenzi and Benacci), a sort of “federation” that ruled over the surrounding plain and the minor villages. Villa Cassarini could be the a sort of common sacred area of these villages. The data show us that these villages share cultural, economic and behavior aspects. For example, we can find the same material culture and building techniques in the various villages. Also the funeral and the ritual practices are the same throughout the area. During the first half of the 8th century BC, this polycentric system carried on a process of expansion in the plain and in the Apennine area, through the foundation of many minor villages, in order to control the agro-pastoral resources and the main routes between northern and central Italy. Some of the older minor villages are abandoned and it is possible that their population migrated in the area of the central village (Benacci), whose necropolis was extended. During the mid/third quarter of the 8th century BC the main villages of Fiera, Caserma Battistini and Via Sante Vincenzi lose their residential connotation and became artisanal areas. The population of these villages was concentrated in the area between the Aposa and Ravone streams. That dynamics leaded to the birth of Felsina as a unified center and correspond to the end of the formation process of the Etruscan center. This center shared a lots of common aspects with the previous villages, for example the material culture and the building techniques. The entire process was probably carried on by the aristocracies of the main older villages, that implemented the tendency to form cohesive communities from a geographical and not just political point of view.

Gli ultimi cinquant’anni di ricerche storiche e archeologiche sono stati fondamentali per la comprensione delle modalità di formazione delle città etrusche, un fenomeno che costituisce il punto di arrivo di una serie di cambiamenti epocali nei modi di abitare il territorio e gestire le comunità: la cosiddetta “svolta proto-urbana”. Da un lato, le acquisizioni per i grandi centri dell’Etruria tirrenica, come Veio, Vulci, Cerveteri e Tarquinia, sono ormai ben consolidate, mentre perdurano numerosi aspetti poco chiari per l’ambito settentrionale e padano, in particolare per il centro di Felsina/Bologna. In questo volume si vuole dare conto delle più recenti acquisizioni sulla fase più antica del Villanoviano bolognese, attraverso l’analisi di tre contesti strettamente connessi al processo formativo di Felsina. Si tratta di due abitati scavati in anni recenti presso la Fiera di Bologna e in via S. Donato-Caserma Battistini, e dell’area di Villa Cassarini, da lungo tempo considerata il punto di coagulo del popolamento nel corso della formazione di Felsina. Lo studio di questi contesti ha permesso di chiarire numerosi aspetti connessi alla formazione della città, mostrando in primo luogo la presenza di una fase di Bronzo Finale avanzato nell’area di Bologna. Inoltre, è stato possibile delineare una serie di caratteristiche comuni fra i vari abitati più antichi della Prima Età del Ferro, che condividono aspetti culturali del tutto affini fra loro, al punto da far ipotizzare l’esistenza, tra tardo X e prima metà VIII sec. a.C., di un sistema comune di gestione delle comunità e del territorio circostante, una sorta di federazione di abitati. Intorno alla metà dell’VIII secolo si assiste a una vera e propria svolta nelle dinamiche del popolamento. Quasi tutti gli abitati più grandi della fase precedente vengono abbandonati e le varie comunità, probabilmente in accordo fra loro, confluiscono verso l’area centrale, che rapidamente si dota di apparati difensivi e nuovi nuclei funerari e intraprende una vasta opera di occupazione delle vallate appenniniche e della pianura circostante. È la nascita di un centro unitario e principale agglomerato urbano dell’Italia settentrionale: Felsina, princeps Etruriae.