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Micromorphology of the occupation surfaces of the Early Bronze Age village of Afragola (southern Italy): preliminary study of Hut 8

Tiziana Matarazzo (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

The Early Bronze Age site of Afragola is an exceptionally well preserved village covered by 1 m of ash during the Vesuvius eruption in 3,780 BP. Afragola is composed of about 22 features, including large structures (9x5m), fences and silos. This research seeks to identify the function and spatial distribution of human activity areas through the micromorphological analysis of undisturbed archaeological deposits. Here, micromorphology is used to determine how Early Bronze Age household activity areas reflect social and economic organization, by documenting the relationship between household structures, microstratigraphy and micro-refuse, to identify domestic, ritual and manufacturing activities and their spatial distribution across the village. This study indicates clear micromorphological differences across the occupation surface, indicating different uses of space. The preliminary findings promise more revelations about daily life in the Early Bronze Age when the study is extended to all features in the village.