The Neolithic Age/4 – Towards a new Era
The Botteghino site, located in the southern plain near Parma, dates to between the second half and the end of the 5th millennium BCE. Excavations uncovered the remains of a rectangular dwelling measuring approximately 11 by 6 meters, along with a deep water well, refuse pits, hearths, small pits, and postholes—likely linked to raised storage structures such as granaries.
In the fine ceramic assemblage, square-rimmed vessels disappear, replaced by bowls, small cups, long-handled ladles, and plain, undecorated pots resembling those produced by the Chassey Culture in France. These cross-cultural connections are also reflected in the stone tools, especially in the widespread use of honey-colored flint, closely matching the varieties found across the Alps. One of the most significant discoveries at the site was the unearthing of two copper awls and a fragment of a ceramic crucible showing clear traces of metal smelting. These finds represent the earliest known evidence of metalworking in the Emilia region.