ESF Exploratory Workshop “Iron and Change in Europe - The First 2000 years” 1 A short summary of research questions for iron in Italy Marco Benvenuti (1) , Claudio Giardino (2) , Alessandro Corretti (3) 1) Dept. Earth Sciences – University of Florence (Italy) 2) Dept. Cultural Heritage – Cultural Heritage – “University Suor Orsola Benincasa” (Naples, Italy) 3) Lab. di Storia, Arch. e Topogr. del Mondo Antico - Scuola Normale di Pisa (Italy) Point 1. First Appearance of Iron Very early straw finds of iron objects were occasionally discovered in Sicily, the Po valley and Sardinia: the most ancient ones date back to the Middle Bronze Age (1,2) Iron artefacts start to appear in Italy more frequently between Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Early Iron Age (EIA). Evidence comes from Sardinia, Calabria, Central Italy and Po valley; they are presumably in connection with the arrival of Aegean and/or Cypriot craftsmen. The first iron working structure found up to now is a smithing hearth discovered in the Bronze Age settlement of Broglio di Trebisacce, Calabria. It dates to the LBA and Final Bronze Age. Points 2-3. Common use In Calabria iron appeared relatively early (Early Iron Age), mainly for weapons (3) . In the Greek settlement of Pithekoussa island (now Ischia, near Naples), the retrieval of iron (smithing) slag in the San Montano necropolis coupled with the discovery of an entire metalworking centre (mainly for precious metals), indicate that iron and other metals were worked in this island since the 8 th cent. BC. In general, there is evidence for a common use of iron (for weapons and other implements) starting from the end of the 8 th cent. BC, mainly in Greek and Phoenician colonies settled in Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. Probably ironworking technology was somehow imported from their homeland; nonetheless, indigenous peoples quickly adopted the new metal. Point 4 When, where and how was iron produced? The main iron ore deposits exploited in Antiquity were located in the following regions: 1. Western Alps (since Roman times?) 2. Central Alps (at least since Early Medieval Age) 3. Eastern Alps (since the Middle Ages) 4. Elba and Campigliese (“Etruria Mineraria”) (since ca. 8 th cent. BC) 5. Tolfa Mountains (Latium) (since Etruscan Age?) 6. Apulia (since late antiquity, but possibly earlier) 7. Calabria (since the Middle Ages, but possibly earlier) 8. Sardinia (since the 8 th cent. BC) Minor iron ore showings occur elsewhere in Italy, but their exploitation in ancient times is still to be assessed on a more sound evidence. Recent surveys indicate that iron-rich, pisolitic bauxites from southern Apulia were apparently exploited for iron production at Salice Salentino, Apulia (4) . Iron smelting sites apparently developed in strict spatial connection with the most important iron ore districts, while refining and forging took place near end-users.