Le ciste bronzee a cordoni nel Veneto dell’età del Ferro

The paper aims to investigate the diffusion of bronze cordoned cists, a particular class of artefacts present in north-eastern Italy since the early Iron Age. These vases, whose origin is to be identified in central-northern Europe, were widely diffused in the south of the Alps, especially in Po Valley, area of the Golasecca culture and Piceno region where, between 6th and 4th centuries B.C., local workshops developed. In Veneto region, bronze cists are mainly found in grave goods of great prestige, where are often associated with other imported materials. This evidence contributes to the recognition of this type of object as luxury product that was purchased and/or exchanged by the élite of the community as a particular form of gift.