Prehistory and politics: class struggle, production processes and conflict in the Italian Bronze Age

This paper discusses the influence of Marxist thought on prehistoric research in Italy. It provides a brief overview of theoretical developments in Italian prehistoric and protohistoric research in the 20th century, before zooming in on the ideals and political engagement of a group of young archaeologists, the ‘Amici’, in post-Second World War Rome. While most members of this group dropped their Marxist theories in the 1980’s, Marx’ thought remained influential in the research group centered around protohistorians Renato Peroni (1930-2010). This lasting influence is illustrated by a review of Peroni’s work in Calabria (southern Italy). Finally, Peroni’s model for protohistoric societies in Calabria is discussed in the light of recent discoveries and theoretical developments