Dendrochronology at the Pile-Dwelling Site of Lucone D (Brescia, Italy): Chronology, Building Reconstruction and Wood-Use Practices

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Tree-Ring Materials as a Basis for Cultural Interpretations" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Early Bronze Age Lucone D pile-dwelling settlement, a UNESCO World Heritage site component, is located in the basin of Lucone di Polpenazze del Garda, northern Italy. It has been excavated, by Museo Archeologico della Valle Sabbia from 2007 to today. Over 400 samples already subjected to dendrochronological analysis allow absolute dating of construction at the site to between 2034 and 1967 ± 10 cal BC. The site experienced numerous construction phases, as well as a disastrous fire that caused the collapse of most of the wooden structures, which fell into the water and were thereby preserved. Dendrochronological analysis of all vertical posts in the site’s Sector 1 revealed contemporary wooden elements referable to the same felling phase, allowing reconstruction of the structural mainframe of its different buildings. Applying this method at Lucone D was more difficult than in other pile-dwelling sites, due to the possible presence of stockpiled and reused timbers. GIS analysis of dendrochronological data and dendrotypology has revealed the site’s complex operational chain of timber management. Here we present recent dendrochronological results that can help in studying the village’s spatial and social organization and in defining the timing of its morphological and technological development.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Tree-Ring Materials as a Basis for Cultural Interpretations   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51021