Geoarchaeology of Domestic Spaces: Formation Processes and Daily Life in the Bronze Age

This PhD research is conducted within the framework of the ERC Consolidator 2020 project “GEOarchaeology of DAily Practices: Extracting Bronze Age lifeways from the domestic stratigraphic record” (GEODAP - project n. 101001839), led by prof. Cristiano Nicosia (Department of Geosciences, University of Padova). The project aims to reconstruct the daily life of Bronze Age communities by focusing on domestic structures, treating dwellings and their related stratifications as archives preserving evidence of past activities and lifeways. Within this context, this research centres on two northern Italian sites located south of Verona: Oppeano – via Isolo – site n. 4D, and La Muraiola di Povegliano Veronese. These sites share a similar chronology, dating to the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1650-1350/1300 BCE), and are located in the same geographic area. They provide some of the most substantial evidence of domestic structures currently known for the Italian Bronze Age and preserve significant archaeological stratifications, which are the primary focus of this study. These sites were chosen not only for their archaeological significance but also to assess how burial conditions impact domestic stratifications and to compare site formation processes. Oppeano 4D is located in a waterlogged context, while La Muraiola di Povegliano is in a well-drained area. These differing burial conditions result in varying degrees of preservation of the archaeological record, with waterlogged sites offering a better preservation of the evidence. This research employs a geoarchaeological approach to investigate domestic stratifications, treating sediments as artefacts that hold cultural and historical significance. To unlock this significance, microscopic methods are applied, complementing field observations. Specifically, the study makes extensive use of archaeological soil and sediment micromorphology to identify the sedimentary traces left by various domestic activities in archaeological deposits. These observations are supplemented by additional chemical and mineralogical analyses, all closely integrated with field data. The interdisciplinary nature of this study, bridging archaeology, geosciences, and chemistry, is crucial for providing a comprehensive understanding of formation processes, which is a fundamental step for reconstructing ancient activities and use of space. The aim of this research is twofold, encompassing both archaeological and methodological objectives. Archaeologically, it seeks to infer social aspects and lifeways of Middle Bronze Age communities in northern Italy. Methodologically, the research aims to provide insights into site preservation and the processes of site formation under different burial conditions. In particular, the well-preserved evidence from Oppeano 4D is used as a critical comparison for sites that have been affected by more significant post-depositional disturbances. Additionally, this work offers practical insights for interpreting evidence in archaeological fieldwork, bridging the gap between macroscopic and microscopic observations. The broader contribution of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of Bronze Age societies and refine geoarchaeological methods, offering new perspectives on the interpretation of domestic spaces in archaeology.