| Geographical range | North Italy |
|---|---|
| Period | Bronze Age,Iron Age |
| Dates | 10th century BC – 1st century BC |
| Preceded by | Proto-Villanovan culture |
| Followed by | Roman Empire |
TheEste culture orAtestine culture was anarchaeological culture existing from the late ItalianBronze Age (10th–9th century BC, proto-venetic phase) to theIron Age andRoman period (1st century BC). It was located in the modern area ofVeneto in Italy and derived from the earlier and more extensiveProto-Villanovan culture.[1] It is also called the "civilization ofsitulas", orPaleo-Venetic.
The culture is named after a proto-urban settlement in thePo Valley (Northern Italy). The city ofEste was originally situated on the riverAdige, which changed its course in 5th century; it was a center ofmetalworking. The settlement evolved in the beginning of the 1st century BC at the cross-way of important traffic routes. Essentially only the cemeteries withcremated burials and sometimes richgrave goods survive for modern archaeology to explore.
The Este culture existed next to theVillanovan Culture in theBologna area and theGolasecca culture in the western Po Valley. It was influenced by theUrnfield culture contemporary to theHallstatt period.[2] Este had artistic and technical influence on the Hallstatt region to the north and theEtruscan civilization to the south. Este was the center of the so-calledsitulae art.[3] In particular, situlas decorated with horizontal rows of animals and human figures are characteristic of this culture. One of the most famous of these is theBenvenuti Situla (600 BC).[4]
The evolution of the bronze foil works can be traced to the end of the 4th century BC. The Este culture withstood the invasion of theCelts, and was only later absorbed by Rome.[3]
Several archaeological discoveries provide evidence that Este was an important centre of Venetic culture from the 7th to the 4th century BC. They had a largeshrine to the god or goddessReitia and a school forscribes. Archaeologists found next to small bronzestatues, tools, vases and money, some 200 inscriptions in the Venetic script and the so-called Alphabet Tablets.[2]
The Veneti (including the Este population) formed a buffer between theIllyrians, whose tribal area was located in theBalkans to the East ofTrieste, and the Celts in thePo Valley. They had their own language and culture, which became increasingly open to Greek influence; but it did not imitate the Greek or Etruscan culture. The Veneti continued the tradition of the Este culture, when it expired in Este.[5]
Four archaeological phases may be distinguished: Este I (from 900 to 750 BC); Este II (from 750 to 575 BC), which has an individual character; Este III (from 575 to 350 BC), the climax corresponding tothe necropolis at the Certosa of Bologna; and Este IV (from 350 to 182 BC), showing Celtic influences.[3]
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