Piana di Vaccina, tra mito e realtà documentario e ricostruzione 3d

Summary

The transcript explores the Bronze Age villages in Italy, specifically focusing on a significant settlement in Piana di Vaccina, near Ladispoli. It describes the distinctive features of the houses, which were oval-shaped and built with wooden posts and thatched roofs, with some evidence suggesting contact with Mycenaean and Italic cultures. The village, which was inhabited until around the 1st millennium BC, reveals a complex interaction of local and foreign influences. The findings spark intrigue about the inhabitants' connections to other civilizations, such as the Trojans, while also debunking the misconception that Ladispoli lacked ancient history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bronze Age villages in Italy had distinct characteristics, but shared common elements, such as oval-shaped huts supported by wooden poles.
• 😀 The village near Afragola remained inhabited until the early first millennium BC, showing similarities with other Bronze Age sites, like the one at Ladispoli.
• 😀 The huts were divided into areas for sleeping, eating, and communal activities, with the chief's hut typically positioned at the center of the settlement.
• 😀 The Piana di Vaccina site was strategically located near a navigable river, which likely facilitated trade and contact with other populations.
• 😀 The discovery of the Piana di Vaccina Bronze Age village caused a stir among experts due to its significant archaeological findings.
• 😀 The village at Piana di Vaccina might have been inhabited by peoples connected to the Mycenaeans or Italic populations influenced by Mycenaean craft traditions.
• 😀 The huts had thatched roofs reinforced with wooden structures, and a triangular opening was present for ventilation, a feature also seen in later Iron Age huts.
• 😀 The Piana di Vaccina site may have been inhabited even before the Villanovian civilization, with the settlement dating back to the Middle and Late Bronze Age.
• 😀 Evidence from the 2010 excavation suggests that Mycenaean-style artifacts were found at Piana di Vaccina, pointing to contact between this settlement and Mycenaean artisans or Italic-Micenean influenced groups.
• 😀 The village’s connection to the mythological story of Aeneas in Virgil's *Aeneid* adds an intriguing historical layer, linking the site to ancient literature and the Etruscan-Roman periods.

Q & A

What were the key characteristics of Bronze Age villages in Italy?

Bronze Age villages in Italy were not uniform but shared common elements. The settlements featured round or oval-shaped huts supported by wooden posts. These huts were divided into areas for sleeping, eating, and other uses, with the chief's hut typically located at the center of the settlement.

What is significant about the Bronze Age village found in Afragola?

The Bronze Age village in Afragola was well-preserved and inhabited until the first millennium BC. Its discovery provided insights into the layout and construction of such settlements, with elements shared with other Bronze Age sites like those near the Vaccina stream in Ladispoli.

What did the roofs of the Bronze Age huts typically consist of?

The roofs of the huts were made of straw, supported by a wooden framework. They featured a triangular opening for ventilation, allowing airflow, which was crucial for cooking and heating inside the huts.

What archaeological significance does the site at Piana di Vaccina hold?

Piana di Vaccina is an important archaeological site that dates back to the Bronze Age, with further significance in Etrusco-Roman periods. The site is known for its unique finds, including connections to Mycenaean and Italo-Mycenaean cultures, and its discovery sparked much debate about the origins of its inhabitants.

How do the Bronze Age settlements compare to later Iron Age Villanovian ones?

Iron Age Villanovian settlements were technically more advanced than Bronze Age ones. They used more stone in construction, and the dwellings were more refined, with more elaborate decorative elements, reflecting an evolution in building techniques and cultural practices.

What evidence links the Bronze Age village to Mycenaean or Italo-Mycenaean cultures?

Evidence from the 2010 excavation at Piana di Vaccina, including artifacts and ceramic styles, suggests that the site had contact with or influence from Mycenaean or Italo-Mycenaean cultures, particularly in terms of craftsmanship and technology.

How large were the huts found at Piana di Vaccina?

The huts at Piana di Vaccina were relatively large, with oval-shaped structures measuring approximately 10 meters in length and 8 meters in width, and some larger ones reaching 14 meters in length and 10 meters in width.

What kind of pottery was discovered at Piana di Vaccina, and what does it indicate?

The pottery found at Piana di Vaccina was from the Middle to Late Bronze Age, around 1300-1100 BC. It included stylized depictions of fauna, linking it to the Apennine and Sub-Apennine cultures. This supports the idea that the people at Piana di Vaccina had significant contact with other contemporary civilizations.

Why is the discovery at Piana di Vaccina considered important in understanding Ladispoli's ancient history?

The discovery challenges the misconception that Ladispoli lacks ancient history. It demonstrates that the region was once home to significant Bronze Age, Etruscan, Roman, and Ostrogothic settlements, revealing its historical importance over the millennia.

How does the mythological aspect of Aeneas' arrival tie into the history of Piana di Vaccina?

The myth of Aeneas, described by Virgil in the Aeneid, ties into the history of Piana di Vaccina as it is believed that Aeneas may have arrived in the area near the Vaccina stream. This connection between myth and history raises interesting questions about the interaction between historical facts and mythological stories in ancient narratives.