The golden sun discs from Roca Vecchia, Lecce, Italy:
archaeological and cultural context
Zusammenfassung
Die goldenen Sonnenscheiben von Roca Vecchia, Lecce
(Italien): archäologischer und kultureller Kontext.
Der bronzezeitliche Siedlungsplatz Roca Vecchia, Lecce (Ita-
lien), auch bekannt unter Rocavecchia oder Roca, war an der
Küste gelegen und durch eine große Befestigungsmauer
geschützt. Die Siedlung zeigt eine lange Besiedlungsdauer
von mehreren Jahrhunderten, zwischen der mittleren bis zum
Ende der Bronzezeit. In diesem Zeitraum wurde die Siedlung
mehrfach zerstört, wieder aufgebaut und erneuert. Während
des 2. Jts. v. Chr. besaß dieser Ort vermutlich eine eigene sozi-
ale, kulturelle und religiöse Identität, die sehr wahrscheinlich
mit dem Höhlenheiligtum der »Grotta Poesia« und der beein-
druckenden Befestigungsmauer sowie mit dem natürlichen
Hafen in der Bucht von Torre dell’Orso in Verbindung stand.
Weitgreifende archäologische Untersuchungen der Siedlung
aus der Spätbronzezeit II (11. Jh. v. Chr.), die durch eine Befes-
tigungsmauer auf der Roca-Halbinsel umfasst wurde, zeigten
eine regelmäßige Anordnung von Gebäuden und Freiflächen,
die durch einen großen Brand komplett zerstört worden
waren. Der besterhaltenste Bau ist der sog. »Hüttentempel« –
ein außergewöhnliches Ensemble von metallenen Artefakten
wurde in seinem Umfeld gefunden. Unter den vielen bronze-
nen und goldenen Gegenständen, die entweder aus dem
»Goldhort« oder dem »Bronzehort« stammen, oder aber auch
einfach auf dem Fußboden des Gebäudes gefunden worden
waren, befanden sich auch zwei goldene Sonnenscheiben.
The site
The archaeological site of Roca is situated on the Adriatic
coast of Puglia in south-east Italy, roughly 23 km south of
Lecce and 18 km north of Otranto (Fig. 1a–b). The calcare-
ous promontory on which the protohistoric settlement
stands contains an area today of about 3 ha (Fig. 1c1 and 1e).
An inlet on the south side separates the promontory from a
broad flat area about 1o m above sea level with steep cliffs
on its seaward side which stretch uninterruptedly towards
the ancient Bay of Torre dell’Orso (Scarano 2o12, Fig. 1.9).
Two large karst cavities, known as »Grotta Poesia Grande«
and »Grotta Poesia Piccola«, both now invaded by sea water
and open to the sky as a result of the collapse of their roofs,
are situated 2oo m south of the promontory (Fig. 1c2 and 1d).
The smaller of the two caves counts as one of the most extra-
ordinary archaeological monuments ever discovered: thou-
sands of inscriptions and carvings cover its walls and attest
to intense religious activity from the Neolithic to the begin-
Ta g u n g e n d e s L a n d e s m u s e u m s f ü r V o r g e s c h i c hT e h a L L e • B a n d 1 1 • 2 014
Teodoro Scarano and Giovanna Maggiulli
Summary
The Bronze Age site of Roca Vecchia, Lecce (Italy), spelled also
Rocavecchia or Roca, is a long-lived coastal settlement pro-
tected by a large fortification wall, which was repeatedly de-
stroyed, rebuilt and restored over the centuries between the
Middle Bronze Age and Final Bronze Age. During the 2nd mil-
lennium BC this place probably had its own social, cultural
and religious identity probably related to the cave-sanctuary
of »Grotta Poesia«, to the impressive fortification wall and to
the natural harbour of the Bay of Torre dell’Orso. Extensive
archaeological investigations of the Final Bronze Age II
(11th century BC) settlement enclosed by the fortification wall
on the peninsula of Roca revealed a quite regular arrange-
ment of buildings and open spaces which were completely
destroyed by a great fire. The best preserved of these struc-
tures is the so-called »hut-temple« – an outstanding assem-
blage of metal artefacts was found in this context. Among the
many bronze and gold items included in the »hoard of gold«
and in the »hoard of bronze«, or simply recovered on the floor
level of the building, there were two pairs of golden sun discs.
ning of the Roman Republican Age (Pagliara 1987; 199o;
1991). In the early 198os the discovery of the inscriptions of
»Grotta Poesia« led C. Pagliara to make the Roca promontory
and »Grotta Poesia« the primary objectives of his investiga-
tions. Since 1987 annual archaeological excavation cam-
paigns have been conducted in Roca by the Department of
Cultural Heritage of the University of Salento under the sci-
entific direction of Pagliara and R. Guglielmino, along with
specific measures for the restoration, consolidation and
documentation of the walls of »Grotta Poesia« and its
inscriptions.
The Roca site was occupied without interruption from
the Middle Bronze Age (16th century BC) to the Hellenistic
Age (2nd century BC), and then in the Late Middle Ages (Pag-
liara 2oo1), probably because of the importance of its geo-
graphical position (at the narrowest passage of the Otranto
Channel) and the richness in natural resources of its terri-
tory. This place seems to have preserved over the centuries a
distinct identity, both physically (in terms of its topographi-
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Fig. 1a–e (left page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. a Geographical position of the site cations has revealed a plan of the enceinte with a monumen-
in the Mediterranean Sea; b Geographical position of the site in the Penin- tal main entrance and at least five postern gates. The defen-
sula Salentina, Puglia, Italy; c Aerial view of the archaeological area:
1 protohistoric settlement, 2 cave-sanctuary »Grotta Poesia«; d Aerophoto- sive wall was destroyed by a great fire, probably subsequent
grammetric map of the archaeological area; e Aerial view of the proto- to a siege, which caused the collapse of the stonework struc-
historic settlement; the dotted rectangular area marks the Sector IX. tures, and burned down the settlement almost entirely 2.
Abb. 1a–e (linke Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. a Geografische Lage der Sied- The excavation of the rubble filling from the posterns’
lung in der Mittelmeerregion; b Lage der Siedlung auf der Salentina Halb- long corridors and the Monumental Gate showed that the
insel, Puglia, Italien; c Luftbildaufnahme der archäologischen Fundstelle: original contents of these spaces were sealed in their func-
1 prähistorische Siedlung, 2 Höhlenheiligtum »Grotta Poesia«; d Karte der
Fundstelle auf der Grundlage von Luftbild-Photogrammetrie; e Luftbild- tional situation as it was shortly before the destruction. The
aufnahme der prähistorischen Siedlung; die gestrichelte Linie markiert most extraordinary discovery came from Postern C: several
im Rechteck den Sektor IX. vessels were grouped in three different areas. In a fourth
zone, at the western end of the corridor, another group of
vessels was associated with seven complete human skele-
cal and spatial organisation) and socially (as a regional core- tons, two adults, a juvenile and four children. Apparently,
site probably mainly of religious nature). The cultural con- during the siege the members of this group had taken refuge
tinuum is even more evident if we focus on the 2nd millen- within the corridor and finally tried to hide behind a heap of
nium BC. vessels. Unfortunately, they all died from asphyxia caused
The fortified space, which was also imbued with a sym- by the fire set to the fortification wall (Scarano 2o1o; 2o11;
bolic value, was certainly key to the spatial identity of the 2o12, 358–372). Additionally, the excavation of the southern
human settlement. However, in terms of why the location semicircular room of the Monumental Gate led to the discov-
was chosen in the first place and why it was subsequently ery of another very life-like archaeological context: the artic-
occupied for so many centuries might probably relate to the ulated skeleton of a young man (18–2o years old) was found
presence of the »Grotta Poesia« cave-sanctuary playing an in the lower part of the collapse layer. This individual would
essential role. Hundreds of Latin and Messapic votive have died in a place somewhere above this room and then
inscriptions praying to the local goddess TAOTOR ANDI- fallen down into it when the ceiling collapsed. The anthro-
RAHAS/TUTOR ANDRAIOS and much more graphic pological analysis confirmed this interpretation and re-
engravings, including signs of hands, animals, spirals, vul- vealed that the cause of death was very probably a stab
vas and even the Minoan-like pairing of bucranium/double- wound to the lumbar region; there was, in fact, a clear un-
axe, clearly attest the primary role of this religious place healed mark on a rib. Two important artefacts were found in
since prehistory1. the same layer, but closer to the floor and near the skeleton:
These two factors, the fortifications and the cave-sanctu- an Aegean-type bronze dagger and the head of a bird made
ary, taking account of their immense social significance, of hippopotamus ivory (this latter item probably refers to a
constitute the central elements in the precise regional iden- Levantine-type duck pyxis; Guglielmino 1996, 265–267).
tity that this place acquired in the 2nd millennium BC. This further amazing snapshot from the siege of the Apen-
The protohistoric settlement was situated on the current nine fortification of Roca allows us to ask the question »Who
peninsula of Roca and throughout its existence was pro- was the warrior that owned these exotic artefacts? Was he an
tected by a large fortification wall running from north to attacker or a defender?« (Scarano 2o12, 92–142, cat. no. 29o;
south across the isthmus and marking the boundary of the 297)3.
inhabited area along the landward side. Today this monu- There is some evidence for the immediate reconstruction
ment presents a slight curve along its entire length, approxi- of both wall and dwellings. During the Recent Bronze Age
mately 2oo m, with a maximum height of about 4 m and a (late 14th – first half of 13th centuries BC) the fortification
maximum width of about 21 m in correspondence with the wall was rebuilt using ashlar limestone blocks instead of
main gate. The wall was repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and the unworked slabs used in the Middle Bronze Age. Along
restored using different techniques and materials, over its inner side, the ruins of the Middle Bronze Age wall were
the centuries between the Late Protoapennine (16th cen- covered with a great amount of filling material, thus moving
tury BC) and Final Bronze Age II (FBA II, 11th century BC) the fortification line many metres forward, and a new outer
(Scarano 2o12, 15–5o). face of the fortification was built so as to form a scarp of
The extraordinary state of preservation of the Middle pseudo-ashlar masonry. The main gate of the fortification
Bronze Age walls is in large part due to the suddenness of its was reconstructed in the same place, but it was approxi-
destruction in a violent fire that took place when the Apen- mately 2 m higher than the original Middle Bronze Age
nine phase (15oo –135o cal BC) was well under way. The gate. During the Final Bronze Age the fortification wall was
excavation of contexts that were buried and protected by the restructured for the last time using a huge quantity of tim-
collapsed walls has yielded a huge quantity of information ber. The main gate remained almost the same as that of the
useful for accurately determining the chronological and Recent Bronze Age, but was completely framed with wood,
cultural aspects of this historic event. The analysis of the probably in order to support new covering structures. After
remains of the Late Apennine (15th–14th century BC) fortifi- the FBA II destruction (11th century BC) the fortification

1 Guglielmino 2oo8; 2o11; Guglielmino/ 2 AMS radiocarbon dating: LTL o82A (human dar interval: 1495–1375 cal BC (89,3 %)
Pagliara 2oo6; 2oo8, Fig. 48–49; bone), 3o88 ± 55 BP, 1465–1211 cal BC (Scarano 2o12, 373–376).
Guglielmino et al. 2o1o; Fig. 3a. (93,4 %); LTL8436A (Juniperus), 3158 ± 35 BP, 3 There is no convincing answer to these ques-
15o4–1381 cal BC (93,5 %); combined calen- tions so far.

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Fig. 2a–b (left page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. Final Bronze Age II so-called hut- open spaces and large buildings have yielded much evidence
temple, general plan. of ritual activities probably linked to collective ceremonial
Abb. 2a–b (linke Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. Sogenannte Hüttentempel aus practices. Depositions of animal remains (in some cases
der Spätbronzezeit II, Gesamtplan. complete articulated skeletons) were associated with an ex-
traordinary collection of local handmade impasto pottery
and Aegean-type fragmentary vessels (LH IIIB–IIIC Early);
wall was never rebuilt again and the inhabited area was sig- furthermore many metal, amber, stone, bone and ivory arte-
nificantly reduced (Scarano 2o12, 15–5o). facts of local and exotic origin have been found in these lay-
The analysis of the remains concerning the inhabited ers, even if they are not necessarily in all cases related to
area, however, still does not allow for a complete reading of religious activities (Pagliara et al. 2oo8; Guglielmino 2oo7,
the protohistoric spatial organisation. Currently the remains 91–96; 2oo9).
of the Middle Bronze Age settlement are still scattered The fire that destroyed the last Bronze Age settlement of
because of the difficulty of reaching the deeper layers of the Roca is dated to an advanced phase of the FBA II7 and it is
archaeological deposit or, on the contrary, because no more associated with LH IIIC Late-Submycenaean Aegean-type
remains of this phase are preserved in areas with thinner pottery (Jung 2oo6, Pl. 12.1–7; Guglielmino 2oo7, 96). Cur-
archaeological layers. More than 3o hypogeic cavities of dif- rently it is without doubt that for this phase we have the best
ferent shapes and dimensions were excavated in the calcare- overall picture, in terms of our knowledge of both the gener-
ous bedrock and probably used for ritual purposes; small al topographical organisation of the inhabited area and also
sections of dwelling structures have been investigated espe- the specific aspects of the individual structures and build-
cially along the stretch next to the inward side of the fortifi- ings. This includes the architecture and building materials,
cation wall. In 2oo5 the excavation of the stratigraphical the functions and organisation of the spaces together with
sequence in Sector X allowed us to radiocarbon date4 the fire the form and size of the elements located within them, the
which destroyed the Middle Bronze Age III (MBA III) build- physical relationship between covered and open areas, etc.
ing; this means that it is contemporary with the Late Apen- Large sections of some monumental buildings have been
nine siege of the fortification wall (Scarano 2o12, 35–37; investigated during the last 2o years and among them stun-
373–376). ning evidence has been collected within the so-called »hut-
While exceptional in terms of both the archaeological evi- store« and »hut-temple«7.
dence and historical implications, the data available for the In wider terms, Roca has also yielded more Aegean-type
phases of the Recent Bronze Age in Roca 5 does not allow for materials than any other indigenous settlement in Italy.
a complete reading of the spatial organisation of the inhab- From its very beginnings it appears to have been charac-
ited area inside the line of fortifications. The most signifi- terised by clear cultural hybridisation with Minoan and
cant evidence of the Recent Bronze Age occupation is associ- Mycenaean elements; during the Recent Bronze Age and
ated with the investigation of the stratigraphical sequences Final Bronze Age phases there is also some evidence for
of two different areas, Sector X (Pagliara et al. 2oo7) and shared worships and rituals common in Aegean religious
Sector IX (Pagliara et al. 2oo8). The former is related to two practices9. This was the result of the central role played by
bursts of construction linked to the Recent Bronze Age I the site during the Bronze Age in the social and economic
(RBA I) and RBA II (mid 14th – early 12th centuries BC); relationships with the Aegean traders.
Phase III of sequence Sector X, dated to the RBA II6 and
concerns a building with remains of bronze artefacts, local
handmade and Aegean-type pottery, Late Helladic IIIC The Final Bronze Age »hut-temple«
(LH IIIC) Early/Middle, in addition to a small craft work-
shop using animal hard tissues and containing tools, half- The extensive investigations of the FBA II dwelling area
worked artefacts and raw materials (bone, antler, horn, hip- (excavations 1999–2oo2) enclosed by the fortification wall
popotamus ivory and shell of Caretta caretta). The latter on the peninsula of Roca revealed a quite regular arrange-
relates to the so-called »Cult Centre« (Sector IX; Fig. 1e), an ment of buildings and open spaces: a network of large
area on the north-west side of the peninsula where during a pathways alternating with rows of large constructions par-
time span probably ranging from the Late RBA I to FBA II allel to the inward side of the fortification line.

4 AMS radiocarbon dating (Pagliara et al. Phillyrea sp.), 2926 ± 55 BP, 131o –97o cal BC 293o ± 4o BP, 127o –1ooo cal BC (2σ confi-
2oo7, 356–357): LTL1523A (Triticum dicoc- (95,4 %); LTL1866A (Euphorbua sp.), dence level); LTL332A (Vicia Faba minor),
cum), 32o4 ± 4o BP, 1537–14o7 cal BC 2947 ± 55 BP, 132o –1ooo cal BC (93,2 %); 2923 ± 5o BP, 13oo –97o cal BC (2σ confidence
(91,6%); LTL1525A (Triticum aestivum/ combined calendar interval: 1294– level); LTL333A (Vicia Faba minor),
durum, Triticum dicoccum), 318o ± 5o BP, 1o39 cal BC (95,4 %). In contrast, samples 2943 ± 35 BP, 127o –1o1o cal BC (2σ confi-
1538–1374 cal BC (89,5 %); LTL146oA (Phil- that would enable specific radiocarbon dence level); combined calendar interval:
lyrea sp.), 3o74 ± 35 BP, 1426–1262 cal BC dating of Phase II (likely RBA I or RBA I–II) 122o –1o4o cal BC (2σ confidence level).
(95,4 %); LTL1462A (Myrtus communis), are not yet available (Pagliara et al. 2oo7, 332; 8 Pagliara et al. 2oo7; Guglielmino/Pagliara
31o3 ± 35 BP, 1446–1291 cal BC (94,3 %); 357 Fig. 21; Scarano 2o12, Tab. 6.1). 2oo8; Malorgio/Maggiulli 2o11; Maggiulli
combined calendar interval: 1449– 7 AMS radiocarbon dating from Sector X-2oo5 in press; Maggiulli/Malorgio in press.
1378 cal BC (91,1%). (Pagliara et al. 2oo7, 356–357): LTL1872A 9 Guglielmino 2oo5; 2oo7; 2oo9; 2o11; Gugliel-
5 Guglielmino 2oo7; 2oo9; Guglielmino/ (Vicia Faba minor), 2876 ± 6o BP, 1191– mino/Pagliara 2oo6; Guglielmino et al. 2o1o.
Pagliara 2oo8; Pagliara et al. 2oo7; 2oo8. 9o3 cal BC (95,4 %). AMS radiocarbon dating
6 AMS radiocarbon dating (Pagliara et al. from Sector IX (Butalag et al. 2oo5, 566
2oo7, 356–357): LTL1864A (Rhamnus/ chart I): LTL327A (Vicia Faba minor),

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6 T EO D O R O S C A R A N O A N D G I OVA N N A M AG G IUL L I
The best preserved of these structures is the so-called hut-
temple, located the north-west side of the promontory; it has
an elongated rectangular shape (more than 4o m long and
17 m wide), clearly recognisable thanks to a relatively regular
grid of large postholes placed at an average distance of 2.5–
3.o m (Malorgio/Maggiulli 2o11, Fig. 1–2). Currently, the
available data gathered during the excavation yield a prelim-
inary reconstruction of a double-sloped roof, while other
indications suggest that probably the wattle of the walls
was often not daub covered; besides, at least some sections
of the building perimeter were delimited with a low stone
wall (Fig. 2).
The processing of the large assemblages of artefacts re-
covered on the floor and that of the whole set of information
related to spatial and functional analysis is still underway.
The extraordinary collection comprises hundreds of local
handmade impasto vessels (Fig. 3d.f.h), tens of local fine-
ware pots (decorated with Italian so-called Protogeometric
stylistic repertoire), some large wheel-thrown storage ves-
sels, the so-called pithoi, (likely used especially for the stor-
age of large quantities of oil), a few Late Helladic IIIC
(LH IIIC) Late-Submycenaean Aegean-type pottery, tens of
metal objects and a large set of clay, lithic, bone, antler,
horn, shell, ivory and amber items (Settis/Parra 2oo5, cat.
no. II.189–II.228; Guglielmino/Pagliara 2oo8, 537–544).
In the hut-temple there were several areas for cooking as
demonstrated by the many stoves, both fixed and mobile,
made of fire-hardened clay and even decorated with double-
axe and swastika motifs, and also by the numerous mud-
hearth bases of different shapes and dimensions (Fig. 3g),
made of clay and/or tufina10. The analysis of the spatial rela-
tions among these cooking structures and the different sets
of impasto vessels (used for eating, drinking, preparing,
cook ing, storing) and also the various artefacts and find-
ings give us some precious information about the function-
al characterisation of each area (Malorgio/Maggiulli 2o11;
Maggiulli/Malorgio in press).
In many cases it was possible to recognise evidence of
religious activities like banquets and ritual symposia or any-
way what can be likely related to collective ceremonies;
moreover it is not unusual to have items which highlight the
high social ranking of their participants. In the northern
part of the building a cultic area was discovered; the articu-
lated skeletons of three juvenile pigs were reported in associ-
ation with some sacrificial weapons (an Aegean-type double-
axe, a spearhead and a small knife; Fig. 3b–c) nearby some
low, squared cooking platforms (Maggiulli 2oo6, Fig. 2;
Maggiulli/Malorgio in press).
Other artefacts from this special area of the hut-temple
suggest a plausible cultic function and a close formal affin-
ity with objects circulating in the regions of central and east-
ern Mediterranean; for example, the collection of impasto
tripod trays decorated with crosses or swastikas, which are
comparatively rare in indigenous contexts, but are similar to
the »offering tables« found in sanctuaries and graves in the
Aegean and Cypriote area. The same bronze double-axe is
1o A mortar obtained from a mixture of pow-
dered limestone and clay. These platforms
are very similar to the so-called »ground
altars« documented in many sanctuaries
Fig. 3a–h (right page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. a Carvings of bucranium/double-
axe and individual double-axe from the cave-sanctuary »Grotta Poesia«;
b Inv. no. 81942: bronze knife; c Inv. no. 81944: bronze double-axe;
d Inv. no. 819o7: local handmade tripod tray; e Inv. no. 81918: local
impasto anthropomorphic idol; f Local handmade pottery assemblage
in situ on the floor level; g Mud-hearth base (or cooking platform);
h A set of restored local handmade pottery vessels. b–e Objects from
the hut-temple.
Abb. 3a–h (rechte Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. a Felszeichnungen mit Bukra-
nion/Doppelaxtmotiv und einer einzelnen Doppelaxt aus dem Höhlen-
heiligtum »Grotta Poesia«; b Inv.-Nr. 81942: Bronzemesser; c Inv.-Nr. 81944:
bronzene Doppelaxt; d Inv.-Nr. 819 o7: lokal hergestelltes, handgeformtes
dreibeiniges Tablett; e Inv.-Nr. 81918: lokal hergestelltes, anthropomorph
gestaltetes Impesto-Idol; f lokal hergestellte Töpferwaren in situ; g Lehm-
herdstelle (oder Kochplattform); h Ensemble handgeformter Gefäßen aus
lokaler Herstellung. b–e Objekte aus dem Hüttentempel.
commonly referred to in the world of worship and especially
of ritual sacrifices; in Aegean visual arts, the item is com-
monly associated with the ox/bull skull in an iconographic
scheme reproduced also in the Poesia Cave. A specific sym-
bolic role can be attributed to some anthropomorphic and
zoomorphic idols made of terracotta, compared with speci-
mens attested in Italy and in different areas of the Mediter-
ranean (Guglielmino 2oo5, 646–648; Guglielmino et al. 2o1o;
Càssola Guida 2o12; Fig. 3c–e).
In this northern area of the building there were also
many other offerings left on the floor: the pottery used for
ritual meals and drinks, the »hoard of gold« placed into a
disused posthole and lastly some other bronze and golden
objects scattered all around (Maggiulli 2oo9a, 3o8–319;
2o13, chart 1; Pl. XV). The extraordinary peculiarity of this
context fits with a functional interpretation of a place used
for ritual ceremonies. Some of the most relevant evidence
supporting this hypothesis are: the offering of juvenile ani-
mals; the deposition of the sacrificial weapons nearby an
altar; the lighting of fires; the fragmentation of the same cul-
tic items; the deposition of the offerings on the floor or into
small holes; the preparation of ritual meals and libations as
reported by the assemblage composed of local impasto and
fine handmade tableware (bowls, cups, dippers, jugs, trays
and askoi) associated with a large protogeometric vessel
decorated with a painted scene of deer hunting (Maggiulli
2o13, Pl. XVI; Maggiulli in press; Maggiulli/Malorgio in
press).
These data indicate that the hut-temple was a building
where collective ceremonial practices took place and the
data collected stand for a picture of religious rituals and
symbols of both local and Aegean origin (Guglielmino 2oo9;
Guglielmino et al. 2o1o). It could also be a further evidence
of what some scholars have assumed for other indigenous
sites in central-southern Italy: during the late FBA (late 11th
to early 1oth centuries BC) there is evidence of seemingly
strong integration between local and foreign people in the
field of technology, politics and religion strongly connected
to patterns of well-structured social organisation (Peroni
1985; Carancini 2oo6, 31 and quoted references). In some
cases (for example Scoglio del Tonno, Torre Castelluccia,
in the Aegean, Cyprus and Palestine; in one collecting the blood of the victims (Gugliel-
case the clay platform was connected to a mino 2oo5, 646).
small basin resembling a Mycenaean speci-
men which probably had the function of
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Broglio di Trebisacce, Sorgenti della Nova) special buildings,
even of monumental dimensions, were believed to have
been the residence of the gentry, elites or to have been the
chief mansion (the so-called anaktoron) as a sort of public
building housing leading groups or families performing
political and sacred functions and controlling/managing
those ritualised and somehow holy productive activities
(first of all the metallurgy; Maggiulli in press). T.S.
The hoards
The set of discoveries in the hut-temple is completed with
two hoards, rich in metal objects, the so-called »hoard of
gold« and »hoard of bronze« (Fig. 2b1–2): the former was
found in the northern area of the building within an re-used
posthole, about 1m deep (Fig. 2a–b); the latter was, instead,
in a local handmade pot, placed in a pit excavated in the bed-
rock and sealed with a stone slab (Maggiulli 2oo9a).
1 The »hoard of gold«
The name of the hoard derives from the two golden sheet
artefacts within: these items are generally known as sun
discs and they are often considered as possible worship
equipment. Many other artefacts, both intact or fragmented,
were found together with the golden items; in fact the hoard
contained also both luxury display items as well as simple
ornaments (fibulae, necklaces, pins, bracelets, pendants, but-
tons and headgear elements; Maggiulli 2o13, Fig. 4), weap-
ons (axes, knives, dagger blades and javelins), working tools
(tips of chisel, a drill, punches, awls, a hammer head and a
hacksaw), ingots of different dimensions and shapes and
also casting waste (comprising a total weight of about 2 kg;
Taf. 1). The list of the additional finds is completed by arte-
facts of shell and ivory, along with numerous necklaces
beads made of glass and faïence.
The typological analysis of all objects allows us to recog-
nise a correspondence of these items within a broad and
varied cultural background partly related to the metalwork
koinè and fitting first of all with local or anyway southern
Italian types but also with central-northern Italian, Aegean
and trans-Adriatic regions (Maggiulli 2oo9a)11. From a
chronological point of view, the golden discs, the tanged
knives and the large pins are strictly related to Recent
Bronze Age types, while the group composed of the simple
bow fibulae, the torque, the axes and the hammer head can
be dated to FBA II–III (late 11th – early 1oth centuries BC).
Fig. 4a–b (right page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. a Inv. no. 86775: golden sun disc
before and after the restoration work; b US 966o.271: golden artefacts
from the floor level of the hut-temple.
Abb. 4a–b (rechte Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. a Inv.-Nr. 86775: goldene Son-
nenscheibe vor und nach der Restaurierung; b US 966o.271: goldene
Objekte vom Fußbodenniveau des Hüttentempels.
The composition of the hoard is quite heterogeneous even
in relation to the state of preservation of each item; some of
them are intact, some are only represented by a single frag-
ment, some others are intentionally fragmented and can be
re-assembled; some of the artefacts show clear wear marks,
some have been repaired and reused. Lastly, it is very impor-
tant to underline that a few of them were also deliberately
deformed: two pins, the arch of a large fibula, the blades of
two knives, the shaft of an axe, the blade of a hacksaw, some
pieces of the bronze lamina coupling the sun discs and the
golden sheets themselves.
The analysis of the archaeological context allows us to
highlight some more important elements: the hoard was
placed in an empty posthole still open and visible; nearby,
on the floor of the hut-temple, a few more bronze and golden
finds were discovered (a second pair of golden sun discs was
among them)12. This scenario suggests that the celebration
of a votive deposition in a set ritual evoking some Aegean-
type worship practices and including bloody sacrifices of
animals, libations and ritual feasting, had been interrupted
very suddenly (Guglielmino et al. 2o1o). A few more metal
finds were recovered from the area close to the hoard (some
pieces of a fibula, an ornitomorphic bronze element, needles,
awls, bronze sheets and fragmented bars of different shapes
and dimensions), but the most important is the set of golden
artefacts from layer US 966o.271. This is composed of a pa-
rure (two hair-spirals, a ring and two small beads; Fig. 4b)13,
a thin bar spiral bound by a strip (both likely to be unfin-
ished; Fig. 4b) and five scrunched embossed sheets (Fig. 5a)14.
The restoration work of these gold sheets brought to light
two further sun discs (Maggiulli 2oo6; Fig. 5b–c; 6d).
The whole set of golden finds15 from both the hoard of
gold and from the floor level of the hut-temple can be consid-
ered as a sort of treasure; the items are likely to refer to male
and female ranked individuals, possibly worshippers (dis-
play ornaments, weapons, luxury ornaments, elements of
ceremonial headgear), as well as items relating to a group of
specialised craftsmen (metalworkers, goldsmiths, and skilled
craftspeople working stone and animal hard tissues) prob-
ably resident and working at Roca at least since the Recent
Bronze Age (small hammer head, drill, chisels, awls, punches,
hacksaw, half-worked materials, etc.; cf. Taf. 1).

11 The variety and richness of this hoard is
quite similar to other famous evidence dis-
covered in Italy and Greece such as Gualdo
Tadino, Delos and Tiryns (Jung 2oo7).
12 Maggiulli 2o13, chart I; Pl. XV.
13 These artefacts resemble some golden items
documented either in trans-Adriatic regions
(Eder/Jung 2oo5), or in Myceanean, Sub-
Myceanean and Protogeometric Greece
(Popham et al. 198o), or in those famous and
debated (and even older) contexts of the so-
called »Tiryns treasure« and »Priam’s treas-
ure« (Maran 2oo6; Danilova/Treister 1996)
as well as on a few italian sites (Torre Galli,
Castellace, Vulci, Lipari, Fratta Polesine,
Vivara; Maggiulli 2oo9a).
14 Some small pieces and scraps of laminas and
wires were enclosed within the scrunched
sheets; a similar find was reported in relation
to the golden sheets discovered at Frattesina
(Càssola Guida 2o11, 442; Pl. I.7).
15 Compositional analysis (XRF and PIXE) of
all the golden artefacts from Roca reported
the possible use of a single source of raw
material, a native alloy (electrum?) with a
gold concentration ranging from 83.1o to
88.51 wt% (Appendix 1–2). The composition-
al homogeneity of the artefacts seems to con-
firm the hypothesis of a common metal-
working process and origin of the raw mate-
rials (Bozzini et al. 2oo4; Butalag et al. 2oo5).

Ta g u n g e n d e s L a n d e s m u s e u m s f ü r V o r g e s c h i c hT e h a L L e • B a n d 1 1 • 2 014
 T H E G O L D E N S U N D I S C S F R O M R O C A V E C C H I A , L E C C E , I TA LY: A R C H A E O L O G I C A L A N D C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 11

Fig. 5a–c (linke Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italy. The golden sun discs from the evidence of compelling similarities with the sickle types
floor level of the hut-temple (US 966o.271). a The golden sheets before from the central-northern regions suggests a strong connec-
the restoration work; b Inv. no. 8195o: the unfolding stages of the sheet
(cf. Fig. 7a); c Inv. nos. 81951–81954 (1), 8195o (2): preliminary steps of tion between the sickles from Roca and a few examples from
the restoration work. a central European contexts, in particular from Romanian,
Hungarian, Croatian and Slovenian areas (Müller-Karpe
Fig. 5a–c (left page) Roca, Lecce, Italien. Die goldenen Sonnenscheiben
vom Fußbodenniveau des Hüttentempels (US 966o.271). a Die Goldbleche 198o, Pl. 369–387; Borgna 2ooo/2oo1; 2oo4).
vor der Restaurierung; b Inv.-Nr. 8195o: die Schritte des Entfaltens des The three specimens of shaft-hole axes, with a slim blade
Bleches (vgl. Abb. 7a); c Inv.–Nr. 81951–81954 (1), 8195o (2): vorläufige and a straight edge, may join the Zinzulusa type variety A
Schritte in der Restaurierung.
(Carancini 1984), typically widespread in southern Puglia
and dated to the FBA II (Carancini/Peroni 1999, Pl. 33.3).
Apulian hoards including shaft-hole axes (of different types)
Craftspeople, and smiths above all, most likely could are located first of all in the southern part of the region
have had a leading role in the community of Roca, not only (Manduria, Soleto, Castro-Zinzulusa, Mottola, Reinzano e
because of casting weapons and value artefacts for the resi- Surbo); some other examples, often isolated finds, are from
dent elite groups but also due to their capability to supply the territories of Bari (two items stored at the museums of
and manage the raw materials improving therefore trade Ruvo di Puglia and Bari) and Foggia (two axes from Matti-
and markets and increasing the wealth of the settlement. nata, two stray finds, two others at the museum of Lucera
Nowadays, southern Puglia contains the most important and, lastly, another one at Orsara). Moreover, the hoard of
and most numerous group of hoards dating between the Salapia with its set of axes (of doubtful provenance) is the
Recent Bronze Age and Early Iron Age; in this region, com- only one deposited to the north to the Ofanto River (Tunzi
pletely lacking any mining resources but occupying a privi- Sisto 1999, 136).
leged geographical position for ancient sea routes, the metal The fragmented ingot-axes referring to the Scorrano type
supply in all probability had a key role in social and eco- of flat axe with wide blade also have a regional identity and
nomic relationships between local communities and Aegean date to the FBA II (Carancini/Peroni 1999, Pl. 33–34.76).
traders. The large group of socketed axes (including only frag-
mented specimens with the single exception of item no. 298
which is the single complete artefact of the entire hoard) is
2 The »hoard of bronze« composed of decorated and undecorated examples; the shaft
is decorated with the hourglass-shaped motif, or with the
The rich assemblage of bronze items (the total weight is ribbed wing pattern, or with the vertical scheme or, lastly,
about 16 kg) was found in the south-east sector of the hut- with V- or otherwise Y-shaped motif. All the specimens have
temple, enclosed within a local handmade jar (US 1o719.1; a single ribbed mouth, while a loop is reported only in a few
Maggiulli/Malorgio 2o12, Fig. 74–75), placed into a pit exca- cases; many items do not show wear marks and still have
vated in the bedrock and sealed with a limestone slab below the casting flash; moreover some examples have visible
the floor layer of the building. This hoard is completely dif- casting porosities and irregularities.
ferent from the other one which is mainly composed of per- In wider terms, the group of socketed axes belong to
sonal objects and worship symbols; the so-called hoard of both the Recent Bronze Age and Final Bronze Age types
bronze is a set of hoarded metal, ritually placed into a pit, which was mostly widespread in southern regions (first of
sealed and hidden. The available archaeological data sup- all Puglia), in particular for varieties of the Manduria type,
port the hypothesis of a deposition having a strong politi- as much as in northern regions (mainly Friuli and Trentino),
cal-sacred significance and involving the whole community. especially in relation to the Doss Trento type; there are also
The hoard includes about 3oo items, mostly fragmented, some comparisons (such as for sickles) with trans-Adriatic
of different dimensions and shapes (Maggiulli 2oo9; 2oo9a). types (Müller-Karpe 1959; 198o; Borgna 2oo4, 94–99; Jung
The few intact artefacts are an exception: a socketed axe, a 2oo6, 156; Gori 2oo6, 2o8–21o).
small (miniaturised) plano-convex ingot and three narrow It is worth highlighting the evidence concerning the
sheet strips with in-turned rims. Besides, it is not possible metal slabs (the so-called panelle); there are many small
to re-assemble neither a part nor an entire object from its fragments (weighting a few tens of grams) and some bigger
pieces; a small bar intentionally broken in three fragments pieces (weighting from 1 kg to about 3 kg) combining to a
and some small pieces of sheets are the only exceptions total weight of about 11 kg; the latter specimens sometimes
(Taf. 2). have long V-shaped notches because of the impacts from
Altogether, sickles (75 pieces) and axes (11o pieces) are cutting tools trying to break it into pieces for recasting. It is
the most frequent reported categories of artefacts within not common at all to find metal slabs in hoards of southern
this hoard. The group of sickles16 includes only handled spe- Italy; even if some scholars have suggested a pre-monetary
cimens matching the Caput Adriae types 14 (tipo Castion di value for some unfinished items (axes and especially shaft-
Strada), 18 (a lama raccordata tipo Muscoli) or 19 (tipo Lozzo) hole axes) from Apulian hoards (Peroni 2oo1), plano-convex
of G. L. Carancini and R. Peroni typology (1999, Pl. 27). The metal ingots (panelle) are known only from the hoard of

16 In Puglia other evidence for the category of Tonno (Müller-Karpe 1959, Pl. 13.11; Caz-
sickles come from the hoard I of Manduria, zella 2o12, 189, Fig. 5.2; Peroni 2oo4, 449).
from Coppa Nevigata and from Scoglio del

Ta g u n g e n d e s L a n d e s m u s e u m s f ü r V o r g e s c h i c hT e h a L L e • B a n d 1 1 • 2 014
 T H E G O L D E N S U N D I S C S F R O M R O C A V E C C H I A , L E C C E , I TA LY: A R C H A E O L O G I C A L A N D C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T
Fig. 6a–d (left page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. The golden sun discs after the
restoration work and reconstruction of the decoration motifs. a–b Sun
discs from the hoard of gold; c–d Sun discs from the floor level of the
hut-temple (US 966o.271).
Abb. 6a–d (linke Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. Die goldenen Sonnenscheiben
nach der Restaurierung und Rekonstruktion des Verzierungsmotivs.
a–b Sonnenscheiben aus dem Goldhort; c–d Sonnenscheiben vom Fuß-
bodenniveau des Hüttentempels (US 966o.271).
bronze from Roca and the small fragments from the hoard
of Salapia.
The sun discs
Nowadays, the Final Bronze Age levels of Roca have yielded
the richest collection of gold artefacts from Italian protohis-
tory. Beside the number of finds, the precious workmanship
and the high symbolic value, it is worth mentioning the pos-
sibility that a specific goldsmith’s workshop operated within
this settlement. The discovery of specialised working tools
(in particular the small hammerhead and the punches
having a rounded tip of the same size as the circular marks
decorating the golden sheets), half-worked items and scraps
of laminas supports this hypothesis.
Two pairs of golden sheets known as sun discs come
from the Final Bronze Age hut-temple of Roca. One pair was
found amongst the hoard of gold, while the other one was
included in the set of items lying on the floor close to the
same hoard; the former were torn from the lost (wooden?)
mount and partially warped; the latter were fragmented
and scrunched into five small pieces.
The hoard of gold
Inv. no.: 81946
Max diam: 9.8 cm17
When it was found the sheet had small voids and cracks and
a few parts of both rim and surface were warped and folded;
two small sections of the rim had still both pieces of the
concave-convex bronze sheet which joined the two discs
and fixed from the inside, four bronze nails about 1 cm long
(Fig. 7c–d).
Inv. no.: 81947, 81948
Max diam: 9.6 cm
These two sheets are alike to the other and compose a disc of
the same size; the state of preservation was very similar
with small voids and cracks and, in addition, with short sec-
tions of both rim and surface folded and warped (Fig. 7e–f).
The two sheets were embossed from the convex outer
side so that they received a sophisticated pattern comprising
rows of lightly punched dots and concentric circles: along
17 The item had a structured light 3D scanning
by the Cetma Consortium (Brindisi, Italy)
(PON R&C 2oo7–2o13_IT@CHA »Italian
Technologies for Advanced Applications in
Cultural Heritage Assets«); it was obtained
by the integration of two high-resolution
Ta g u n g e n d e s L a n d e s m u s e u m s f ü r V o r g e s c h i c hT e h a L L e • B a n d 1 1 • 2 014
13
the rim a fishbone motif is included among three parallel
rows of dots; toward the centre of the motif, a festoon in-
cludes four pairs of punched circles; in the centre, two rows
of smaller punched circles are set within rows of dots that
form a cruciform motif; the cross is circumscribed by a cir-
cle of dots and an embossed small circle sits within each seg-
ment of the circle delimited by the arms of the cross motif
(Fig. 6a–b).
The analysis of the elaborate decoration allows us to
recognise a few important motifs: the sun ship, the crossed
circle, the axe blade; each of them a well-known religious
and worship symbol widespread in both European and
Mediterranean contexts (Bettelli 2oo2; Guglielmino 2oo5;
Jung 2oo7).
Inv. no.: 8195o –81954
Max diam: 9.8 cm
US 966o.271
The golden sheets were fragmented and scrunched into five
small pieces (Fig. 5a). Subsequently, when the sheets were
unfolded, it was realised that they were the joining pieces of
another pair of sun discs (Fig. 5b–c). The accurate restora-
tion work showed a quite different pattern obtained using
the same technique of decoration (Fig. 6c–d). The two sheets
were embossed from the convex outer side in order to
achieve a sophisticated pattern comprising rows of lightly
punched dots and concentric circles: along the rim there are
four parallel rows of dots and six pairs of concentric half-
circles; toward the centre of the motif, a festoon of three
rows of dots joins together six punched circles each of which
is within two concentric circles of dots; outside and inside of
the festoon there are also 12 smaller punched circles (six for
each side); in the centre, three concentric circles of dots prob-
ably contain another punched circle.
The sun discs are usually considered worship images or
symbols; examples of these kinds of artefacts were found in
different Bronze Age contexts, whether Italian or European
or even Aegean. These finds reveal a wide network of trade
among different groups and communities of these areas
concerning not only raw materials but also technologies and
symbols (Jung 2oo7; Càssola Guida 2o11). The golden sheets
from Roca were probably fixed to an organic mount and,
more generally, the sun discs were likely included in a more
complex worship representation such as the famous Danish
Trundholm Sun Chariot.
The iconographical pattern illustrated on the sun discs
from Roca refers to the symbology of the sun cycle, wide-
spread in European contexts at least since the beginning of
the Recent Bronze Age. Golden sun discs in Italy have also
been found from the terramara village of Redù, from Casi-
nalbo, from Borgo Panigale and from the hoard of Gualdo
Tadino; these latter gold sheets probably are the best compar-
ison for the items from Roca, both for their dimensions and
the decorating motif, but not for the decoration technique
parallelised cameras, to a projection unit. whole original artefact and to have 3D
3D scanning has been realised via different printed copies of the specimen to be used,
undercuts, at a distance from the object of for example, as tactile models for archaeo-
about 8oo mm and 3 cm error on a 2o cm di- logical exhibitions.
agonal. The high-resolution 3D model allows
us to produce a digital reconstruction of the
14 T EO D O R O S C A R A N O A N D G I OVA N N A M AG G IUL L I
because of the sheets were embossed from the inside (Mag-
giulli 2oo6).
The small sun disc and the other pieces of golden sheets
from the hut-store
A few more golden sheet fragments (US 1323a) were discov-
ered during the excavation of a large building, the so-called
hut-store, placed in the southern area (Sector VI) of the pen-
insula of Roca. Its construction was likely very similar to the
hut-temple in both plan and dimensions. The building was
also close and parallel to the inward side of the fortification
wall and, in the late FBA II, it, too, was destroyed by fire
(Pagliara 2oo1, 216–217; Maggiulli 2oo6).
Inv. no.: 86775
Max. Diam: 2.8 cm x 2.5 cm
Sun disc on wooden mount. The gold fragments relating to a
single convex sheet were found in association with a small
wooden (Erica cfr. Arborea) artefact (spherical cap shaped).
This wooden item was decorated on its outer surface with
narrow carved lines forming a sun-whirl pattern (Gugliel-
mino 2oo8, 35); along the rim there are two parallel carved
lines, a deeper one further out and a shallower one on the
inward side. The wooden artefact forms the support of the
sun disc; the golden sheet was re-assembled, and despite a
few small gaps, it showed to have the same decoration with
a sunburst pattern and a narrow dotted line alongside the
rim (Fig. 4a)18 .
Inv. no.: –
Max. Diam: length o.5–3.o cm
US 927
Six fragments of golden sheet. These pieces (impossible to
re-assemble) maybe relate to a small section of the rim of a
sun disc having the same size of those found in the hut-
temple; the rim is irregular, partly warped and shows green-
ish traces probably related to the bronze sheet used to join
two discs together; it also preserves a damaged bronze nail.
Along the rim the sheet has an embossed decoration with
two parallel rows of dots, a row of small punched circles
and another row of dots (unpublished).
Conclusions
The set of metal objects found in the FBA II hut-temple of
Roca, both from the two hoards and the floor level, besides
being an extraordinary find, represents an extremely rare
chance to investigate a few central topics related to protohis-
toric metalworking and to the interpretation of such hoards:
the circulation systems of metals and artefacts, the produc-
tion capacity, the social and economical value of metals.
18 This association of wooden supports and
golden sheets both decorated with the same
motif is also documented for the items from
the »Tiryns treasure« (Jung 2oo7, 225 Fig. 8);
Fig. 7a–f (right page) Roca, Lecce, Italy. The golden sun discs from the
hoard of gold. a–b The find of the first golden sheet into the posthole-
hoard; c–d Inv. no. 81946: the golden sheet before the restoration work;
e–f Inv. nos. 81947–81948: the golden sheets before the restoration work.
Abb. 7a–f (rechte Seite) Roca, Lecce, Italien. Die goldenen Sonnenscheiben
aus dem Goldhort. a–b Fund des ersten Goldbleches aus dem Goldhort
im Pfostenloch; c–d Inv.-Nr. 81946: das Goldblech vor der Restaurierung;
e–f Inv.-Nr. 81947–81948: die Goldbleche vor der Restaurierung.
Apulian metalworking, despite the evidence of activity
reported from the settlements (artefacts, casting moulds
and metal scraps), is attested essentially by the sequence of
the hoards (Carancini-Peroni 1999). They usually contain
assemblages of intact items relating to few classes of arte-
facts (as for the shaft-hole axes, the socketed axes, the ham-
mers and the chisels) all demonstrate evident connections
with trans-Adriatic and Aegean types. The majority of such
hoards lack reliable indications regarding their findspot and
contexts of discovery; but in any case these finds reveal the
prominent role of this region (completely lacking of mining
resources) and its leading communities in metal supply and
redistribution.
The hoards from Roca stand out for some original ele-
ments: they include different categories of artefacts; items
are often fragmented and intentionally warped as well as
unfinished; there are many metal slabs and ingots of differ-
ent sizes and weights; they also include precious golden,
ivory and vitreous artefacts. It is also worth mentioning
that the hoard of gold (and partly the set of specimens,
US 966o.271, from the floor level nearby) contained half-
worked golden items and also goldsmith and toreutic tools
which have no regional comparisons. On the contrary, craft-
working tools and Aegean-type items (chisels, hammers and
knives) are often included in Apulian hoards as well as in
the hoard of gold at Roca.
Such evidence gives new substance to the debate that con-
cerns the metalworking of the Late Bronze Age in Puglia
and both the maritime and land trade activities with Euro-
pean and eastern Mediterranean areas; with regards to this
matter, nowadays the available data confirm also a close and
important relationship between the region of the Caput
Adriae and central-southern area of the Italian peninsula,
in particular with Puglia.
In this economic trade network a crucial role was played
by the sites occupying those geographically strategic posi-
tions which guaranteed privileged access to the resources
supply and an actual control of the main commercial routes;
in this way these places became the core-sites of both the
local trade network with smaller communities and the long-
distance commercial routes of prestige goods, raw materials
and exotic artefacts. The analysis of the geographical distri-
bution of the hoard finds in Puglia show a high density of
occurrences in the territories of Taranto and Lecce, that is in
the areas of the two main core-sites for the commercial sea-
routes: Roca (Lecce) and Scoglio del Tonno (Taranto).
besides, two small golden sun discs are in-
cluded in the hoard from Delo (Jung 2oo7
Fig. 4).
Ta g u n g e n d e s L a n d e s m u s e u m s f ü r V o r g e s c h i c hT e h a L L e • B a n d 1 1 • 2 014
16 T EO D O R O S C A R A N O A N D G I OVA N N A M AG G IUL L I

The strategical position of the Puglia region certainly
facilitated trades and contacts among different populations
which crossed the Adriatic corridor in various directions,
from one side to the other of the Otranto Channel and from
the Mediterranean to the northern Adriatic coast. The regu-
lar investigations conducted since the last 3o years by the
University of Salento in the Salento peninsula, and in partic-
ular along its Adriatic and Ionian coastal areas, allow us to
outline this territory as the place where these relationships
were particularly flourishing, close and continuous. Remark-
able evidence of economic, political, social and even reli-
gious connections between local and Aegean communities
has been recorded in relation to many protohistoric settle-
ments of this region since the first half of the 2nd millen-
nium BC, but until today the character of these connections
has been a matter of debate. In addition, in the same con-
texts, there are some data concerning Balkan and central
European relations which gradually increased during the
late phases of the Bronze Age; this trend is also supported
by the analysis of the items from the two Roca’s hoards and
from the whole group of Apulian hoards which represent a
striking assemblage in the overall picture of the Italian
hoards. G.M.
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank H. Meller for the kind invitation to
write a paper for this publication and for his helpful discus-
sions during the pleasant visit to Roca. Special thanks are
due to R. Jung for his scientific support and precious sug-
gestions.

Abbreviations

US Stratigraphical Unit
Inv. Inventory
max maximum
diam. diameter

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18 T EO D O R O S C A R A N O A N D G I OVA N N A M AG G IUL L I

Source of figures

1 a http://commons.wikimedia.org/ 3 a–e T. Scarano; f–g Department of Taf. 1 after Maggiulli 2oo 9a

wiki/File:Mediterranian_Sea_ Cultural Heritage-University of Taf. 2 G. Maggiulli
16.61811E_38.99124N.jpg (public Salento; h after Maggiulli 2o13,
domain); b worldwind.arc.nasa. modified by G. Maggiulli Appendix 1 Bozzini et al. 2oo4, modified by
gov; c–e LabTAF-Laboratory of 4 a T. Scarano; b G. Maggiulli G. Maggiulli
Aerial Topography and Photo- 5–6 T. Scarano Appendix 2 Butalag et al. 2oo5, modified by
grammetry, Department of Cultu- 7 a–b Department of Cultural G. Maggiulli
ral Heritage-University of Salento Heritage-University of Salento;
2 after Maggiulli/Malorgio 2o12 c–f T. Scarano

Addresses

Teodoro Scarano
Giovanna Maggiulli
University of Salento
Department of Cultural Heritage
Via D. Birago 64
I-731oo Lecce
teodoro.scarano@unisalento.it
giovanna.maggiulli@unisalento.it

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 T H E G O L D E N S U N D I S C S F R O M R O C A V E C C H I A , L E C C E , I TA LY: A R C H A E O L O G I C A L A N D C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 19

1.10

1.4

1.5 1.18 1.19 1.20

1.1
1.3 1.6 1.17 a
5 cm

1.36 1.35 1.34

1.25

1.22 1.23 1.24 1.37 1.38

1.27 9660
a1

a1

9870
a 5 cm
5 cm 1.39 1.28

Taf. 1 Roca, Lecce, Italy. A selection of (a) bronze items from the hoard of gold and (b) bronze knives (US 966o; US 987o) from the hut-temple.

Taf. 1 Roca, Lecce, Italien. Eine Auswahl von (a) Bronzeobjekten aus dem Goldhort und (b) Bronzemessern (US 966o; US 987o) aus dem Hüttentempel.

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appendix

Item id. code Description Weight (g) Au wt% Ag wt% Cu wt%

10334,28-42 unfolded and fragmented disc 6.3 79.45 19.05 1.50
10334,68 unfolded and unfragmented disc 5.6 82.54 15.87 1.59
1323a unfolded disc fragment 0.4 80.35 17.82 1.83
1323b unfolded disc fragment 0.1 80.17 18.93 0.90
927a unfolded disc fragment 0.1 81.66 17.49 0.85
927b unfolded disc fragment 0.1 80.32 18.03 1.65
9660,271b folded disc fragment 1.8 82.30 16.10 1.60
9660,271c folded disc fragment 5.3 81.98 16.48 1.54
9660,271d folded disc fragments 2.1 82.17 16.43 1.40
9660,271e folded disc fragment 2.3 82.38 16.37 1.25
9660,271f folded disc fragment 1.5 82.57 16.30 1.13
9660,271l 3 folded disc fragments 0.2 77.70 20.73 1.57
9660,271a ring 1.5 80.82 17.82 1.36
9660,271g hair-spirals 3.4 80.58 18.52 0.90
9660,271h spiral 8.1 78.08 18.82 3.10
9660,271i ornamental bead 0.6 84.23 14.77 1.00
- bracelet 6.1 86.10 12.90 1.00
10990 unfinished artefact 0.7 89.03 10.67 0.30

Appendix 1 Elemental composition of the protohistoric golden items from Roca, as analysed by XRF.

Anhang 1 Elementarkomposition der protohistorischen Goldobjekte aus Roca mittels RFS-Analyse.

Appendix 2 Summary of the elemental com-

Sample Description Analytical results position of the studied golden artefacts from
Element Concentration (wt%) Roca, as analyses by PIXE.

9660.271c folded disc fragment cu 1.52 ± 0.01 Anhang 2 Zusammenstellung der Elementar-
au 81.73 ± 0.13 komposition der beschriebenen Artefakte aus
Roca mittels PIXE-Analyse.
ag 16.55 ± 0.08
9660.271d folded disc fragment cu 1.99 ± 0.02
au 81.62 ± 0.14
ag 16.19 ± 0.10
9660.271e folded disc fragment cu 1.63 ± 0.02
au 82.56 ± 0.15
ag 15.61 ± 0.09
9660.271f folded disc fragment cu 1.23 ± 0.01
au 82.12 ± 0.20
ag 15.95 ± 0.12

10334.28 unfolded and fragmented disc cu 1.91 ± 0.02

au 79.65 ± 0.21
ag 18.24 ± 0.14
10334.68 unfolded and disc cu 1.99 ± 0.02
au 83.10 ± 0.55
ag 14.72 ± 0.03

10990 Unfinished artefact cu 0.83 ± 0.01

au 88.51 ± 0.50
ag 10.46 ± 0.01

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