Numerous urban archaeological investigations conducted during the early 1980s enabled Pisa to be counted among other Etruscan cities of a more ancient origin. Of significance is the excavation of the Trench D, carried out in Piazza del Duomo between 1985-1988. Here, the period between 4th cent. and 1st cent. B.C. coincided with a deep change in the urban planning. The area investigated, which corresponded to an alleged sanctuary active between the last decades of the 5th cent. until the end of the 3rd cent. B.C., was, in fact, turned into a residential area in the early 2nd cent. B.C. This paper aims to present a wide overview of the archaeological findings of the Hellenistic age recovered during the excavation of Piazza del Duomo, a large part of which came to this area through the ancient city’s system of ports and landing places, on which flowed short, medium and long-range trade routes. This study contributes to confirming that the Hellenistic age represented a very prosperous period for Pisa. Firstly, as a northern stronghold in the commercial circuit known as facies dei porti and as a pole of redistribution towards the Etruscan and Ligurian centres of Versilia and the inner territory; and secondly, following the maritime dominance of Rome obtained at the end of the first Punic war, as a centre of strategic relevance for the wars against Galli and Liguri and for the trades directed towards the western Mediterranean.
Pisa, Piazza del Duomo. The Hellenistic pottery as commercial and economic indicator of the northern coastal Etruria
Emanuele Taccola
2022-01-01
Abstract
Numerous urban archaeological investigations conducted during the early 1980s enabled Pisa to be counted among other Etruscan cities of a more ancient origin. Of significance is the excavation of the Trench D, carried out in Piazza del Duomo between 1985-1988. Here, the period between 4th cent. and 1st cent. B.C. coincided with a deep change in the urban planning. The area investigated, which corresponded to an alleged sanctuary active between the last decades of the 5th cent. until the end of the 3rd cent. B.C., was, in fact, turned into a residential area in the early 2nd cent. B.C. This paper aims to present a wide overview of the archaeological findings of the Hellenistic age recovered during the excavation of Piazza del Duomo, a large part of which came to this area through the ancient city’s system of ports and landing places, on which flowed short, medium and long-range trade routes. This study contributes to confirming that the Hellenistic age represented a very prosperous period for Pisa. Firstly, as a northern stronghold in the commercial circuit known as facies dei porti and as a pole of redistribution towards the Etruscan and Ligurian centres of Versilia and the inner territory; and secondly, following the maritime dominance of Rome obtained at the end of the first Punic war, as a centre of strategic relevance for the wars against Galli and Liguri and for the trades directed towards the western Mediterranean.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
