Presenza e funzione del vasellame in bronzo nelle necropoli etrusche di Bologna (550-350 a.C.)

The necropolises of Bologna can be dated to the so-called “Certosa phase”, between the mid-sixth century BC and the progressive Gallic occupation of the territory, represent a privileged observatory also for the study of bronze vessels of Etruscan production. In fact, this valuable asset plays a leading role in the context of the logic underlying the structuring of the funerary assemblages of the local community, more often included in complete set that allude to the consumption of wine, but also documented as a container for the cremated remains of the deceased or in relation to other semantic spheres such as, for example, women’s cosmetics. Within the framework of a now consolidated and multi-year research activity that the Chair of Etruscology of the University of Bologna dedicates to the theme of the funerary ritual of the Etruscan-Po valley area, this corpus of materials has recently been the subject of a all renewed aimed at reconstructing an overall look that allows to fully exploit typological, stylistic, productive and ideological aspects. Precisely the role played by these materials within the local funerary ritual and the criteria that had to guide their selection, always analyzed in a diatopic and diachronic dimension, will be at the center of this contribution. A contextual perspective, therefore, which makes it possible to focus on behavioral and cultural models, in the hope of contributing, also from this angle of observation, to the recomposition of a mosaic as updated and as possible expanded on the topic.