The Origins of Naming Process: Toponymic Archaeology of Two Indo-European Place Names

Abstract

The aim of this paper is the reconstruction of the remote naming process and toponymic stratigraphy of the place names Bistagno and Sessame, proposing two new etymological reconstructions for them, in order to recover the prehistoric origins of the two toponyms, taking into account previous interpretations and hypotheses. Aim of the paper is also to highlight possible paretymologies inherent in the two place names. Bistagno and Sessame are two small neighboring villages of prehistoric origins located in North-Western Italy, Piedmont, at the border between the current Provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Since the origins of their names are still disputed, this paper would like to shed some light on their toponymic stratigraphies, investigating both of them in-depth.