Pottery jug from the Final Bronze Age site (Luco-Meluno prehistoric culture) of Ciaslir del Monte Ozol (Trento, Italy)

The Luco-Meluno culture (13th century BC - 7th century BC), is an archaeological facies that developed between the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age in the Alpine area of ​​Trentino , South Tyrol , and in the Engadine. The term was coined in 1927 by Gero von Merhart , initially it included only Meluno ( Melaun ), a town near Bressanone . The Luco-Meluno culture bordered to the north with the eastern Hallstatt facies , and to the south with the Atestine or Paleovenetian culture , "two great cultural spheres, which, during the first centuries of the Iron Age, certainly played an important role in influencing the taste choices of the prothoretic Alpine society. " The jug represents a typical example of this culture: it has a triangular spout and an external decoration with grooves; next to the handle there are two horn-shaped appendages. Research conducted on Ciaslir del Monte Ozol , Late Bronze Age, revealed the presence of places of worship with open votive fires ( Alpine Brandopferplätze ). These cultic practices included the lighting of fires, the sacrifice of animals and the offering of ceramic vessels, in particular the characteristic richly decorated ceramic jugs ( Culture of Luco ) that were intentionally crushed during libations.