Reaching across the Adriatic: northern and western interactions of the Cetina phenomenon (25th–20th centuries BC)

Abstract

As is well known, peninsular Italy was considerably involved in the “Cetina phenomenon” during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC, as illustrated by the occurrence of pottery akin to Cetina-types at several sites on the Adriatic side; recent discoveries in present-day Campania have enriched this picture and evidence from the north-east (present-day Veneto and Trentino), besides that from the Trieste/Slovenian karst, may also enlarge this range of connections. The most probable hypothesis to explain the situation is that of small groups, which identified themselves with some elements that we consider as ‘Cetina’, moving from the eastern Adriatic (mainly Dalmatia) to the northern and western Adriatic. Several questions remain open, such as those related to the patterns of interaction between the eastern Adriatic small groups reaching the Italian regions and the local communities. What was the dimension of these cross-cultural contacts and how did they differ from one region to another? To what extent did the foreign groups blend with the local ones? Which were the aftermaths of these interactions? This paper presents a critical reconsideration of the available evidence from continental and peninsular present-day Italy, including the geographical setting of sites and reciprocal distances, with the aim of tracing similarities and differences between the various cases. Hypotheses on both the chronology and patterns of these Cetina interactions are discussed.