Archaeologists have unearthed a prehistoric cist tomb containing the remains of at least two individuals, along with evidence of a sacred area dating back at least 4,000 years, in Berbenno di Valtellina, a town in Italy’s northern Lombardy region. The discovery was made during construction work for a new gymnasium at a primary school. This find is the first of its kind in the Valtellina area.
Overhead view of excavation area. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Como, Lecco, Monza-Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio e Varese
The tomb, a rectangular stone structure known as a cist, was surrounded by a stone circle and was likely covered by a mound, a common practice in prehistoric burial rituals. The burial is thought to date back to the transition period between the end of the Copper Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the discovery is that one of the stone slabs used in the tomb’s construction is actually a decorated stele, an upright stone pillar, which dates back 5,000 years. This stele, engraved with symbols that suggest it represents a male figure, is believed to have originally been part of a prehistoric sanctuary.
Similar steles have been found in the nearby Teglio area and are currently exhibited in Palazzo Besta. The presence of this stele extends the known distribution area of these artifacts, marking the first time such a stele has been found west of Chiuro.
The cist burial discovered in the prehistoric sanctuary. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Como, Lecco, Monza-Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio e Varese
Stefano Rossi, an archaeologist with the Superintendency, said: “It can certainly be said that what is emerging from the excavations represents one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made in Valtellina.”
Rossi further explained that while previous artifacts indicated human presence in Berbenno dating back to the Bronze Age, these new findings suggest that the area was frequented by humans at least 1,000 years earlier. “The stele statue constitutes the most western testimony of this important cultural phenomenon, dating back to over five thousand years ago,” he added.
Detail of stele used in cist wall. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Como, Lecco, Monza-Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio e Varese
The discovery not only provides evidence of prehistoric funerary practices but also hints at the existence of a sacred or ritual site in the region. This finding aligns with other Bronze Age discoveries in northern Italy, which indicate that prehistoric communities in the area underwent significant cultural transformations during this period. Funerary evidence and sacred sites, where objects of adornment played an important role, are key to understanding these transformations.
The team is continuing to document the site meticulously, and further discoveries may still be made as the excavation progresses. According to reports, once the excavation is complete, there is a possibility that the remains will be removed and relocated for preservation and display elsewhere, allowing the gymnasium project to proceed.