In Italy, a large underwater Bronze Age settlement was discovered

In Italy, the first stage of underwater excavations at Lake Mezzano in the Lazio region has been completed. Archaeologists managed to document a unique pile-dwelling settlement of the Bronze Age hidden underwater. According to Labrujulaverde publication, the site dates from 1700 to 1150 BC.

The work was carried out by the Underwater Archaeology Service together with an interdisciplinary team of specialists and with the support of the carabinieri underwater unit. Despite difficult conditions - low visibility and cold water - researchers manually opened dense clay layers and recorded more than 600 wooden piles, which constitutes about a third of the settlement.

The location of the piles at depths from 2.5 to 10 meters allowed scientists to draw conclusions about fluctuations in the lake level in different eras and about the scale of ancient habitation. According to archaeologists' assumptions, some of the structures were built on a wooden platform, which occasionally collapsed, including during fires.

One of the most important discoveries was the extraction of more than 25 bronze items - fibulae, axes, spear tips, a sickle, a pin, and a perforated bridle with the image of a solar symbol. The artifacts have been preserved in excellent condition thanks to dense anaerobic clay, which prevents the oxidation process. Bronze ingots were also found, which may indicate the presence of local production.

In the next stages of the expedition, specialists plan to focus on studying the deeper layers of the pile complex and establishing the connection between the artifact deposition levels and the stages of development of this territory.