Innovative Approaches to Reconstructing Pile-Dwelling Settlements: Integrating Structural Analysis and Interdisciplinary Data

1. Introduction With their extraordinary preservation, wetland sites provide unmatched glimpse into material remains from past lifeways. This has allowed for the recovery of a broad range of information about the structural components of these settlements. To date, this information has been majorly used to hypothesize or reconstruct building locations, foundation types and planimetric reconstructions: often focusing on raised vs. ground-level floors and above water vs. above tidal/land space. Nevertheless, advancements—no longer so recent—suggest that combining methodologies, like dendrochronology and paleoenvironmental data on lakeshore fluctuations, may oGer a deeper understanding of these settlements. These insights can be further enriched by integrating engineering-based structural calculations with archaeological data. Although these methods were designed for modern applications, they have the potential to lay the groundwork for studying ancient construction techniques and the social and technological contexts in which these structures were built. We cannot claim precise calculations but can outline structural possibilities to support reconstructions. 2. Materials and Method 2.1 Creation of Database and Site Catalogue To adopt a new method, it was necessary to select an initial focus area from which to gather the most comprehensive information possible. Given the greater availability of bibliographic resources and the authors' familiarity with the region, Italy was chosen within its modern geographical boundaries, taking account of the entire territory, from north to south. Information was collected on wetland contexts from the Neolithic to the Early Iron Age (5800–750 BCE) and organized into an Access database and GIS Project. As a result, one of the most complete catalogues of Italian wetland sites to date was created, with a total of 312 sites and 125 recognized structures. 2.2 Typology of Structural Elements and “Bonifiche” (Fill Reclamations) The typology of structural elements and bonifiche (the term used in Italy for fill reclamation, generating an insulated floor for buildings) was updated, starting from the classification proposed by Balista and Leonardi (Balista & Leonardi 1996, 199-228). 2.3 Structural Calculations: Critical Pile Height and Wind Impact on Structural Stability Once all relevant data and information on structural elements were gathered, calculations of the critical height for piles were carried out for contexts where the necessary structural data were available. Critical height means the maximum height a pile -with certain characteristics and on a certain substratum- can reach before failure, which allows for estimating the maximum height of a structure. This measurement includes the height from the point where the pile raises from the ground up to its maximum height. To perform this calculation, the cross-sectional area of the pile is required (although in most cases, the diameter suGices, if precise data are unavailable), as well 131 as the wood species. Other values are derived from the Italian Technical Standard NTC 2018, EuroCode 5 and UNI EN338:2016. This analysis resulted in the calculation of the critical height for 71 structures across Italy. For two of these sites, the analysis of the spatial distribution of the piles was also possible: Lucone D (Brescia, Italy, dating to the Early Bronze Age) and Fiavé VI (Trento, Italy, dating to the Middle Bronze Age). The recent finding at Lucone D site of two multi-hole timber beams 8 m long, suggested that they could be adopted as wall plates in the roof structure. In order to check the feasibility of this hypothesis, the eGect in terms of deflection and displacement has been carried out, considering the wind forces as reported in the Italian Technical Standard NTC2018. Additionally, thanks to collaboration with the University of Bern, the sites of Lattringen VIRiedstation (Bern Canton, Switzerland, dating in the passage between Middle Neolithic and Late Neolithic), Zürich-Parkhaus Opéra (Canton Zurich, Switzerland, dating Late Neolithic) and Greifensee-Böschen (Canton Zurich, Switzerland, dating to the Late Bronze Age), were also included in the study. 3. Results The results are still a work in progress and have yet to be thoroughly discussed. However, preliminary data highlight that critical pile height yields interesting insights, especially when merged with available dendrochronological data. In cases where dendrochronological data does not allow for a precise identification of the perimeter and structural elements—due to similar dating results or closely spaced structures, where it is unclear whether they represent a single larger structure or multiple smaller ones— critical height can help distinguish which piles likely served as load-bearing elements. It can also clarify whether the central row of piles within the structure was tall enough to support the ridge beam of the roof or determine the function of piles found within the perimeter, such as supporting walls, lofts, or only the raised floor. Moreover, the initial results demonstrate structures with greater elevations, which could highlight a three-dimensionality of the various structural elements within the sites and, consequently, propose insights into the social dynamics within the settlement. Regarding the impact of wind on the multiforated wooden beams found at Lucone D, hypothesized to function as edge beams, once the maximum heights achievable by the piles at the site were estimated, it was possible to confirm this hypothesis as plausible, as it would not destabilize the structure even when the wind action is considered in the calculation. 4. Discussion This newly applied method still requires validation across a wider range of data and study contexts but seems to hold the potential to provide a fresh perspective on both past and future datasets. Achieving this, however, depends on a detailed understanding of the existing constrictions, particularly in the upper section of the piles—a factor that is not always accessible as often one has to rely on assumptions drawn from the archaeological record concerning the constrictions of the lower part, which may diGer significantly. A significant limitation for research lies in the lack of precisely published data on pile diameters and their spatial distribution in archaeological reports. Addressing this gap is a key priority for future studies. Having access to such information could enable the identification of previously unclear construction techniques distributed across various contexts. This, in turn, could shed light on connections and exchanges that have yet to be fully understood, oGering a deeper insight into the technological and cultural interactions of these communities, bringing forward a proper technotypological approach. References: Baioni, Marco, Mangani, Claudia, Maltese, Giuseppe, Martinelli, Nicoletta, Nicosia, Cristiano, Quirino, Tommaso and Saletta, Emanuele. 2023. Ricostruire strutture di tipo palafitticolo dell’antica età del Bronzo: il caso del sito D del Lucone di Polpenazze del Garda (BS). 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