The rock engravings of Valle Camonica represent an exceptional ensemble of signs dating back to prehistoric and protohistoric times, and offer unique opportunities for studying the ideological world of the ancient people who lived in this place. The Iron Age phase of the phenomenon has been widely studied and has led scholars to some interpretations of the social structure of the 1st millennium BCE in the region, usually assuming the existence of a structured, vertical hierarchy and sometimes using the definition of "warrior aristocracy". This paper examines the dynamics that have led scholars to make this social interpretation and focuses on the most recent archaeological data to propose a reconstruction of Iron Age society in the Valle Camonica. Finally, the iconographic data are compared with the archaeological data to find common ground and propose alternative social constructions.
Mountain Lords. The Archaeological context of Iron Age "rock-art" in Valle Camonica
Paolo Rondini
2024-01-01
Abstract
The rock engravings of Valle Camonica represent an exceptional ensemble of signs dating back to prehistoric and protohistoric times, and offer unique opportunities for studying the ideological world of the ancient people who lived in this place. The Iron Age phase of the phenomenon has been widely studied and has led scholars to some interpretations of the social structure of the 1st millennium BCE in the region, usually assuming the existence of a structured, vertical hierarchy and sometimes using the definition of "warrior aristocracy". This paper examines the dynamics that have led scholars to make this social interpretation and focuses on the most recent archaeological data to propose a reconstruction of Iron Age society in the Valle Camonica. Finally, the iconographic data are compared with the archaeological data to find common ground and propose alternative social constructions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
