THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF LIVELET: DIDACTIC AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY ON A TRIP INTO PREHISTORY (, , ) Marta Modolo1,2, Fabio Sartori2,4, Carlo Ingegno2,5, Daniele Magagnin2, Carlotta Maniglia2,6, Maura Stefani2, Alessandra Marton2, Angela Bressan2,7, Gianmarco Mason2,8, Samantha Rizzotto2, Valentina Riva2, Giulia Conte2,3, Francesca Carpené2, Paola Nardellotto2,9, Marta Meneghini2,4, Erika Follador10

ABSTRACT The prehistoric remains found in Colmaggiore di and the desire to promote the history and the environment of the lakes, led to the Livelet Archaeological Park project, wanted by the . It is an outdoor museum, partner of Exarc, located on the west bank of Revine lakes, in the Pre-Alps, north of Treviso (Italy). The first experimental approach was the reconstruction of three pile-dwellings, that are in full-scale and lie in the proximity of the water. They reproduce

1. IPHES, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain 2. Parco Archeologico Didattico del Livelet, Via Carpenè 18, 31020 Lago, TV, Italy 3. Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121, FE, Italy 4. Museo di Storia Naturale e Archeologia, Via Piave 51, 31044 , TV, Italy 5. Facoltà di lettere e filosofia, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via Palladio 8, 33100, UD, Italy 6. CSA Cooperativa Sociale, Viale Italia 214, 31015 , TV, Italy 7. Associazione Culturale Studio Didattica Nord Est, via Lignano 2/b, 33050, Pozzuolo del Friuli, UD, Italy 8. Dipartimento dei Beni culturali, Università degli Studi di Padova, Piazza Capitanato 7, 35139, PD, Italy 9. Associazione Verdegemma, Via Andretta 25, 31051, , TV, Italy 10. Unpli, Piazza Squillace 1, 31050 , TV, Italy [email protected]

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Neolithic, Copper and Bronze Age, namely the periods when the lakes were inhabited. From 2013 the Livelet’s staff began to carry out the reconstruction of tools and Neolithic clothes as well as the organization of the “Living History”. The most important activity is a bronze sword of Sauerbrunn type that has been archaeologically repeated.

RESUMEN Los restos prehistóricos hallados en Colmaggiore di Tarzo y el deseo de promover el ambiente de los lagos originaron el proyecto del Parque Arqueológico del Livelet, propuesto por la Provincia de Treviso. Ubi­ cado en la orilla oeste de los lagos de Revine, en los Prealpes, al norte de Treviso (Italia) es un museo al aire libre, socio de Exarc. El primer enfoque experimental fue la reconstrucción del pueblo sobre palafitos, con tres cabañas reconstruidas a escala natural que reproducen el Neolítico, el Cobre y el Bronce, es decir los períodos en los cuales los lagos estuvieron habitados. A partir del 2013 los operadores llevaron a cabo algunas reconstrucciones de herramientas y prendas de vestir neolíticas, así como a la organización de “Historia viviente”. La actividad más importante es una espada en bronce de tipo Sauerbrunn que ha sido duplicada con tecnologías prehistóricas.

Keywords: Archaeological Park of Livelet, Neolithic, Copper and Bronze Age, pile-dwelling village, bronze sword.

Palabras clave: Parque arqueológico del Livelet, Neolítico, Cobre, Bronce, pilotes, espada en bronce.

The geographical context and the start-up of Livelet The history of Treviso, whose roots date back to prehistory and which lands were an important crossroad for the Romans, can be also relieved thanks to our innovative Archaeological Park (Casadoro et al. 1976; Bagolini 1984). The scientific Park was established in collaboration between the Superin- tendence of Environmental and Monumental Heritage of the Region and a multidisciplinary scientific study carried out by Dr. Ausilio Priuli and Arch. Ezio Padovan. The total area built by the forestry service is about 15,000 s.m. The park was firstly managed by the Province, together with the local Pro Loco and the Centro Ricerche Corbanese. This latter managed the Park in col- laboration with the Museo di Storia Naturale e Archeologia of Montebelluna and Prof. Marco Peresani. The initiative, originated from the discovery at Colmaggiore (Tarzo, Treviso, Italy) of prehistoric remains, thought to be the foundations of lake huts on stilts, led to the Livelet project which was put forward by the Province. The project also arose from the desire to promote the naturalistic area of the lakes and the Valsana. Opened to public in 2007 has been managed by Unpli Treviso since 2009. The structure is also an Exarc partner and is part of the European Grundtvig project. The complex is located on the western shore of Lago lake, at the foothills of the Treviso Pre-Alps (225 m a.s.l.). The two lakes joined by an isthmus are the

Butlletí Arqueològic, V, 40 (2018), ISSN 1695-5862 (p. 65-71) THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF LIVELET: DIDACTIC AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY 67 sole survivors of the Piave ice sheet’s passage during the Quaternary glaciations (Ehlers and Gibbard 2004). The Livelet is a system of open-air educational areas and workshops, with a space given over to the pile-dwellings’s reconstruction, a reception, teaching ar- eas and simulation zones both for archaeological excavation and burial mound area (Cassola and Corazza 2002). Is a place of interest for schools and groups that can choose from a wide offer of activities. During the weekends we offer special events, guided tours of the pile-dwellings, characterized by the inter- action with reconstructed tools and also naturalistic guided tours in the area surrounding the lakes. In relation to our didactic activities we propose nine thematic laboratories for primary and secondary schools: archaeological excava- tion; neolithic bread; reconstruction of small huts; bow and arrow; music and sounds; weaving with loom; netting with vegetable fibres; the laboratory of art with clay and ochre and the excavation of a prehistoric burial.

The archaeological site of Colmaggiore di Tarzo The first important discovery in the lakes area dates back to 1923, when a bronze sword of Sauerbrunn type (XV century B.C.) was found during the excavation of a canal. Subsequently another short sword of the same type and two small daggers of Peschiera type (XIII century B.C.) came also to light. In 1987 further excavations in Colmaggiore, allowed to locate other remains and structures such as traces of vertical poles, burnt wooden fragments, plank floors and embankments used to consolidate the muddy ground of the lake shores. The successive campaigns (1989, 1992, 1997) proved that they belonged to a peri-lacustrine settlement and also the archaeological remains (lithic tools, flint and polished-stone weapons, bowls, vessels, jars, pots, handles, engraved decorations, colanders, flat whorls, loom weights, faunal and palaeobotanical remains) helped to establish that this settlement started during the recent phase of the Neolithic (4.500 B.C.) (Arnosti and Longo 1988; Bianchin 1990, 1992, 2002). These human groups were distinguished by their cultural aspects, related to ceramic vessels belonged to the culture of the Square Mouthed Vases and the culture of Lagozza. The community remained there during the Copper Age (culture of Remedello) up until the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (culture of Polada) (Pessina and Tiné 2010).

The reconstruction of the pile-dwellings: the first experimental approach The realization was preceded by a partial drainage of the area and clearing of the invasive vegetation, allowing the space for trees, shrubs and other herba-

Butlletí Arqueològic, V, 40 (2018), ISSN 1695-5862 (p. 65-71) 68 MARTA MODOLO AND OTHERS ceous species, in keep with the autochthonous vegetation. The village has been totally built in eco-compatible wood (chestnut, spruce, oak and cornelian cher- ry) to guarantee a philologically reconstruction and also an environmentally sustainable solution. The realization was based on the study of the pile-dwelling settlement of Fiavè (Bagolini and Perini 1975). The three full-scale pile-dwellings were achieved using methods and mate- rials available in the past and reconstructed in three ways: the Neolithic hut is on dry land (fig. 1), that of Copper half on land and partly on water and that of Bronze on water (fig. 2). In this latter case, the wooden board were sustained by vigorous wooden poles stuck in the water and the wooden parts meant to remain immersed were crafted in larch wood, particularly remarkable for its resistance. The materials stored inside have been completely reconstructed, fol- lowing the working techniques used in prehistory and each interior reproduced respectively the three ages. The structural foundations have been created with wooden poles, while the covers using cross sections of lakeside reeds, anchored to the structural elements and then covered with a mixture of clay, straw and sand, held together with the quicklime. The roof cover was obtained with a traditional technique that uses reed sections of about 30 cm of width.

Other experimental activities: methods and materials All the replicas/tools were crafted with materials used in prehistory and made under realistic conditions. In the first experimentation we obtained the prehistoric glue mixing res- in, bee-wax and charcoal. First we ground the charcoal to a fine powder. In a container, we heated the tree resin until it became more liquid, adding honey (ratio of 2 parts resin to 1 of charcoal). After about a half hour, the glue mixture started to harden very quickly upon removal from the fire. We based this exper- iment on the study of a prehistoric sickle discovered in Ledro. Using this glue we reproduced a prehistoric arrow. One of the other experimental works is the fusion of a bronze sword (fig. 3). After digging a pit in the ground for fire, we used a bellow of wood and leather to blow the air and stoke the fire. For the nozzle as well as for the crucible we used gray clay mixed with sand. At about 1000 degrees the bronze melts in the crucible and is quickly removed from the fire to be drained inside the refractory stone moulds. After 30 seconds the mould is opened and the sword immersed in water for total cooling. One of the last activities we conducted had been the production of Neolithic clothes in linen and kid skin, some of it dyed with natural pigments. Further-

Butlletí Arqueològic, V, 40 (2018), ISSN 1695-5862 (p. 65-71) THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF LIVELET: DIDACTIC AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY 69 more, once a year we offer a Living history to represent the way of life of the Neolithic communities.

Conclusions The Livelet park offers a unique experience, allowing people to immerse into Prehistory and experience daily lives of our ancestors. The discovery of Colmag- giore site, which led to this project shows a continuity of settlement and land use form Neolithic to Bronze Age. Our pile-dwellings have been reconstructed according to these periods. The archaeological experimentations have a scientific value but they are also valuable for public entertainment: the reproduced tools are useful to learn more about prehistoric ways of life. Moreover, the combination of workshops, edu- cation and experiences that we offer, is unique in our Region. We recommend other groups of different countries to organise workshops, activities and camps as they contribute to both the education and the spread of prehistoric themes.

REFERENCES Arnosti, G.; Longo, G. 1988: “Il villaggio palafitticolo di Colmaggiore, Tarzo (TV) ai Laghi di Revine”, Quaderno, 7, p. 1-64. Bagolini, B. 1984: “Neolitico”, in Aspes, A.: Il Veneto nell’antichità, Verona, p. 323-447. Bagolini, B.; Perini, R. 1975: “Trentino Alto Adige”, in Guida alla preistoria italiana, Sansoni, Firenze. Bianchin Citton, E. 1990: “Il sito umido di Colmaggiore di Tarzo”, Atti della XXIX Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Trieste, p. 201-217. Bianchin Citton, E. 1992: “Il sito umido di Colmaggiore di Tarzo (TV): tutela di valorizzazione”, Il Flaminio, 6, , p. 28-38. Bianchin Citton, E. 2002: “Nuovi dati del Neolitico recente e finale del Veneto centro-orientale”, Atti della XXXIII Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria II, Trento, p. 23-38. Casadoro, G.; Castiglioni, G. B.; Corona, E.; Massari, F.; Moretto M. G.; Paganelli, A.; Ter- enziani, F.; Toniello, V. 1976: “Un deposito tardowürmiano con tronchi subfossili alle Fornaci di Revine (Treviso)”, Bollettino del Comitato Glaciologico Italiano, 24, p. 22-63. Cassola Guida, P.; Corazza, S. 2002: Il tumulo di Santo Osvaldo. Alla ricerca dell’antenato, Sequals (PN). Ehlers, J.; Gibbard, P. L. 2004: Quaternary glaciations-extent and chronology: part I: Europe, De- velopments in Quaternay Science, vol. 2, Elsevier. Pessina, A.; Tiné, V. 2010: Archeologia del Neolitico. L’Italia tra VI e IV millennio a. C., Carocci, Roma.

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Figure 1. Neolithic pile-dwelling.

Figure 2. Copper and Bronze Age pile-dwelling.

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Figure 3. Frame of the bronze sword’s reproduction. It is possible to see the bellow of wood and leather, the crucible and the stone matrix.

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