This work presents a new study of Alpine prehistory between two critical moments of its cultural development – the advent of peasant economies and the rising of the first metallurgy – through a series of texts written by researchers concerned with issues relating to human settlement in the Alps, dedicated primarily to geographers. This work presents a new study of Alpine prehistory between two critical moments of its cultural development ??? the advent of peasant economies and the rising of the first metallurgy ??? through a series of texts written by researchers concerned with issues relating to human settlement in the Alps, dedicated primarily to geographers.