Ricerc@Sapienza

THE SOCIO-POLITICAL ROLE OF THE BRONZE AGE FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT OF COPPA NEVIGATA (NORTHERN APU-LIA) - What set Coppa Nevigata apart from the neighbouring sites is its long lasting occupation (from the 18th to the 8th centuries BC) on one hand, and the extremely complex fortification lines, which were rebuilt and modified several times over the Bronze Age. The extensive systematic excavations at the site together with the results of a wide range of multi- disciplinary analyses provide us with an enlightening insight into the pattern of activities that were carried out in the set- tlement. Moreover, there is good evidence for figuring out the exchange relationships of the site on both local and international scales. This paper is aimed at giving a synthetic overview of the role that Coppa Nevigata played within the wider Bronze Age economic system during each phase of its long-lasting life. Furthermore, on the basis of the evidence coming from the 30 year long research at the site, authors deal with the problem of social transformations and the trajectory towards the development of a political organisation of a hierarchic type