Maria Fioroni (1887-1970) belonged to an affluent family of Florentine origin. Her father, a Garibaldi supporter, moved to Legnago, a small town in the province of Verona (Veneto). The family settled in an elegant residence known as Palazzo Fioroni, which still serves as the headquarters of a prestigious cultural foundation. While she is mainly recognized locally as a patron who donated collections that now form the core of civic collections, her role as an amateur archaeologist is often overlooked. Notably, Maria Fioroni continued her prehistory research even during the Fascist era, a remarkable feat in its own right. However, Maria Fioroni played an active role on multiple fronts, combining field research in archaeology with museology and even political and social activism. Her work ranged from establishing one of the earliest colonial collections to field archaeology, encompassing social and patriotic engagement. Her philanthropic efforts earned her significant national recognitions and honors. Furthermore, a dense network of information exchange, archaeological materials, and iconographic materials revolved around Maria Fioroni, allowing her to fully integrate into the revival of prehistoric archaeology studies in Republican Italy. This paper delves into the case study of Maria Fioroni, shedding light on her uncelebrated role during the Fascist era, and her contributions to the resurgence of prehistoric archaeology during the initial decades of the Italian Republic (1950s-1960s). In doing so, it aims to reevaluate and highlight the agency of women in this complex historical context

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