XI. ‒ Torre Guaceto (Carovigno, BR). - La necropoli a cremazione (indagini 2019-2020)

The paper presents the results of the first investigations at the Bronze Age cremation cemetery of Torre Guaceto, near Brindisi, which led to the identification and excavation of four cremation burials (Tomba no. 1-4), as well as different sequences of post-holes. Thanks to 14C dates and typological features of ceramic and metals finds, these burials have been dated between Middle Bronze 3 and Recent Bronze 2 (mid 15th-mid 12th centuries BC); therefore, Torre Guaceto represents, together with Canosa- Contrada Pozzillo, the oldest Bronze Age cremation cemetery south of the Po Plain. This contribution, despite being a pilot-study which will be soon complemented and significantly broaden with results from ongoing excavations, aims at reconstructing the multi-faceted history of the site and its community combining archaeological, anthropological, archaeobotanical, organic residue analyses, as well as lead isotope and chemical analyses on metals finds, thus trying to establish a protocol for future studies on the site.