Vasca Votiva
The structure is  on the top of a hill, near the town of Noceto in the Po (river) valley.  It was found in 2004.  Using  dendrochrology and radiocarbon dating,  archaeologists have calculated that the structure was built in 1432 BC (plus or minus 4 years).  The Vasca Votiva was a tank lined with logs and boards.  The structure is 12 meters by 7 meters and about 3 meters deep.  The scientists know it contained water because there were layers of sediment in it.  Because there are no channels for water to flow out, the scientists think it had a ritual, or religious function.  The intentional depositing of ceramic vessels supports this interpretation.  The period when the structure was built was the Bronze Age.  At this time, the culture of this region, the Terramare culture was changing a lot.  The society was changing from mostly individual little farms to larger communities.  Plowing and irrigation were increasingly used.