Mount Bibele

Mount Bibele is a large mountain in the Apennine mountains which acts as a divide between the drainage basins of the Idice river to the east and the Zena river to the west. Its highest point is 617 m (2,024 ft) above sea level. The mountain is located in the commune of Monterenzio.

Mount Bibele
House at Mount Bibele
Highest point
Elevation	617 m (2,024 ft)
Coordinates	44°16′14″N 11°22′22″E
Naming
Etymology	Likely derives from the Latin word Bibo, which means to drink
Language of name	Italian
Geography
Location	Apennines

Etymology

The toponym Bibele likely derives from the Latin verb bibo which means to drink. Medieval documents describe a mountain with the name Monte Bibulo.^[1]

Geography

The mountain is made of sandstones, biocalcarenite, and marls from the Miocene epoch of the Neogene geologic period.^[2] The mountain has three peaks. Mount Bibele is the highest and is 617 meters high. It is the origin of the name of the mountain. The other peaks are Mount Tamburino, which is 575 meters high, and Mount Savino, which is 550 meters high.^[3]

History

Artifacts from a tomb found at Mount Bibele

This region was likely settled by humans due to its naturally fortified position that allows for a view of the Raticosa pass and access to the Po valley. This provided an economic benefit as it was on a trade route between the Etruscan civilization and central Italy.^[4]

Archaeological evidence has revealed that it was inhabited as early as the European Copper Age. A necropolis on the site was used by the La Tène culture, the Etruscan civilization, and the Celts.^[5] The oldest tombs in the cemetery date from 450 to 350 BCE and likely belong to the Etruscan civilization. Tombs dating back to the later parts of the 4th century BCE have Celtic artifacts. The necropolis is the largest Celtic cemetery found in Italy. There are 171 tombs including 123 inhumations and 38 cremations. Excavations at the cemetery began in 1980.^[2] Numerous ceramics and bronze statuettes have also been found.^[3][6][4]

References

1. "LOCATION OF MOUNT BIBELE" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
2. Scheeres, Mirjam; Knipper, Corina; Hauschild, Maya; Schönfelder, Martin; Siebel, Wolfgang; Vitali, Daniele; Pare, Christopher; Alt, Kurt W. (1 October 2013). "Evidence for "Celtic migrations"? Strontium isotope analysis at the early La Tène (LT B) cemeteries of Nebringen (Germany) and Monte Bibele (Italy)". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (10): 3614–3625. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.05.003. ISSN 0305-4403. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
3. "Monte Bibele, Monterenzio, Monte Bibele, ambito culturale etrusco celtico, età etrusco celtica". bbcc.ibc.regione.emilia-romagna.it (in Italian). 14 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
4. Fiori, C.; Vitali, D.; Camurri, E.; Fabbri, B.; Gualtieri, S. (1 September 2011). "Archaeometrical study of Celtic ceramics from Monte Bibele (Bologna, Italy)". Applied Clay Science. Environment and Archaeology at the 14th International Clay Conference. 53 (3): 454–465. doi:10.1016/j.clay.2010.11.008. ISSN 0169-1317.
5. Gualandi, Patricia Brasili (1992). "Food habits and dental disease in an Iron-Age population". Anthropologischer Anzeiger. 50 (1/2): 67–82. doi:10.1127/anthranz/50/1992/67. ISSN 0003-5548. JSTOR 29540202. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
6. Roncaglia, Carolynn E. (15 May 2018). Northern Italy in the Roman World: From the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. JHU Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4214-2519-1. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.

External links

• L'area archeologico-naturalistica di Monte Bibele L'area archeologico-naturalistica di Monte Bibele
• http://exarc.net/venues/archaeological-park-monte-bibele-it Monterenzio Archaeological Museum and Monte Bibele (IT) | EXARC Archaeological Park of Monte Bibele (IT) | EXARC