The period between prehistory and history when literary evidence is only indirect and the use of writing by contemporary societies very restricted. The term protostoria is used in central Italy to cover the period (maximally) of 1600 BC to 750 BC. In fact, the conditions of protohistory cover most of the Etruscan period.
See also PROTOHISTORIAN.
Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans. Simon K. F. Stoddart.