Italy
Introduction
The Italian Bronze Age lasted from about 2100 B.C. to 900 B.C. and this period is well-covered by finds of weaponry and art of the period. To understand the Italian world in this period, we must first understand a bit about its geography; Italy is an extremely varied country both in terms of geography, climate and resources. Her landmass includes two large islands and a 1000m peninsula with the Apennines down the center making travel from east to west and north to south problematic.
The warfare of this area was as varied as the geography. Art of the time shows battles and raids carried out on both land and at sea with diverse combatants from many neighboring lands and even some indication of high seas piracy.
Settlements and Fortifications
Italian fortifications shared the usual common features with those of her neighbors. Building was more common in areas that provided some feature of natural defense and tended to protect major trade routes such as rivers and high mountain passes.
The key difference between Italian construction and that of her contemporaries seems to be a greatly increased use of stone. Elevated fortifications known as castellieri are found in northern Italy and number in the hundreds. Some Castellieri have multiple walls of limestone blocks. Making use of natural plateaus and ridges, they can sometimes be found close together and typically only measure 50m in diameter and 5m in height. Many were used to control trade routes or as temporary structures and look-out posts. Later, these constructs would evolve to include higher walls and semi-circular towers along their perimeters.
In Sardinia, the signature fortification was the nuraghi. Thousands are known and are primarily single conical towers comprised of large stone blocks. These simple but massive structures (some with walls 4m thick) typically had only one entrance and stairs cut into the walls. The exact purpose of nuraghi is not known with some theorizing that they acted as protective bases for wooden structures perched on top. Later, the nuraghi would develop into complicated nuraghi complexes of interconnected towers in which dozens of the buildings may be clustered in a very small area.
Weapons and Armor
As in the other areas discussed, evidence of weaponry in Italy is various since many caches of weapons have been excavated. Originally placed for storage or for sacrificial purposes, some of these hoards contain hundreds of weapons. Burial chambers are also a common source for weapons.
Copper Age deposits are dominated by flint arrowheads and daggers much like those in other areas. Some of these were highly decorated and intricate. With the introduction of bronze, we see a gradual replacement of flint in weapons as diverse as axes, daggers and halberds. By the time we reach the Middle Bronze Age, flint has almost disappeared, replaced by bronze for most uses. Daggers are common and we see the introduction of the sword proper with an optimized design for both stabbing and slashing. The variety of sword designs was immense. Many were extremely intricate and ranged from solid cast one-piece swords to two-piece swords with bone or antler handles riveted to a bronze blade. Even later in the Bronze Age, the spear becomes popular. The greatest advantage of the spear was its versatility. At range, the weapon could be throw, or used to unhorse a rider with the pointed butt planted firmly in the ground or at close ranges the staff could even be used as a club of sorts.
Defensive Equipment
The use and composition of defensive equipment in this region closely parallels that of other regions. Organically based materials were used to protect most major body parts while metallic equivalents existed for use on ceremonial occasions. Helmets are described as particularly ornate and impractical by the iconographic evidence available. The use of the horse also increases near the close of the Bronze Age with chariots and horses appearing in the archaeological record sometimes buried with their owners as a sign of standing or prestige within the community.
Burials and Paleopathology
Copper Age tombs are relatively common and give us good examples of armaments from hat period. Typically these can contain copper axes, halberds, daggers and arrowheads. Later examples include Bell-beakers and archery wrist-guards. However, tombs from the Early to Middle Bronze age are relatively rare. By the Late Bronze Age, cremation has become the norm but some of these gravesites still include weaponry. Based on at least one gravesite example, the presence of weaponry may not indicate the deceased was a warrior. One 6-year-old child was found buried with full battlefield regalia indicating the grave goods may have merely been indicative of social status rather than actual battlefield experience.
Iconography
Italian iconographic evidence from Italy is rich and includes rock carvings, stelae, and bronze figurines. One notable example of this is the Sardinian bronze figures of which about 500 have been found. These bronze castings sport leather armor, helmets, round shields and wield the common weaponry of the day. Nearly missing from the records here though are the spear and the bow and arrow. The stelae, or burial stones, are .5 to 2.5 meters in height and several dozen are known from this area of the world. These works vary in quality in detail over time but typically the depicted warriors are carrying daggers or spears. Typically stones demonstrate either war themes or those related to hunting.
Conclusions
The large amount of iconographic and physical evidence seems to indicate that warfare and the role of the warrior in Bronze Age Italy was a very significant one. Whether this is because war was common or merely an assumed defensive posture and cultural norm is not known. At the least, the people of the area were competent hunters with a long tradition of weaponsmithing equipped itself well both in personal weaponry and fixed defenses. In all likelihood, war was common but not a constant companion of the Italian countryside.
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