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Petrographic study of Middle and Final Bronze Age (1625–800 BC) pottery from Eremita Cave (Borgosesia, Vercelli, Italy): inferences on pottery production and exploitation of natural resources

Presented atAnkara, Turkey, 13–16 October 2022
Published inDirk Brandherm and Thomas Zimmermann (Ed.), Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages, p. 123-127
PublisherUnited Kingdom : Archaeopress
Collection
  • Proceedings from the UISPP Metal Ages colloquium
Publication date2024-11
Abstract

Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera, the Eremita Cave overlooks the Alpine Sesia Valley in Piedmont region (Italy). Ten years of excavation (2012–2021) revealed that the cave was frequented for burial purposes during the Middle and Final Bronze Age (1600–800 BC) and yielded a ceramic assemblage composed of 2982 sherds. The petrographic study regarded 28 samples, selected by taking into account pottery typology, relative chronology, surface and core colours as well as macroscopic features of pastes. The analysis aimed at investigating paste composition and exploitation of natural resources. Pottery from Eremita Cave displays the characteristics of five fabrics, mainly discriminated by aplastic inclusions (quartz, granite-granodiorite, pyroxenite, volcanic rocks). These findings allowed to draw inferences on the Middle and Final Bronze Age pottery production in the Lower Sesia Valley and on the exploitation of local natural resources by human groups.

Keywords
  • Eremita Cave
  • Bronze Age
  • Pottery raw materials
  • Archaeometry
Citation (ISO format)
IGRISHTA, Kaltrina, CARLONI, Délia, BESSE, Marie. Petrographic study of Middle and Final Bronze Age (1625–800 BC) pottery from Eremita Cave (Borgosesia, Vercelli, Italy): inferences on pottery production and exploitation of natural resources. In: Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages. Dirk Brandherm and Thomas Zimmermann (Ed.). Ankara, Turkey. United Kingdom : Archaeopress, 2024. p. 123–127. (Proceedings from the UISPP Metal Ages colloquium)
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Proceedings chapter (Published version)
Identifiers
  • PID : unige:182196
ISBN978-1-80327-906-0
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376downloads

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