Trento’s Santa Croce Necropolis Named Archaeological Discovery of the Year

The Santa Croce necropolis in Trento, discovered during restoration work on a historic building, has been ranked second among the top seven archaeological discoveries of 2025 by Il Giornale dell’Arte. Located approximately 8 meters underground, the site has revealed 270 cremation graves with complete funerary equipment, dating back to the early Iron Age (late 10th to mid-6th century BC).

Led by Dr. Elisabetta Mottes and coordinated on-site by Michele Bassetti and Ester Zanichelli, excavations uncovered multiple phases of occupation, including inscribed stele, tumulus cist graves, and well-preserved artifacts due to alluvial conditions. Finds include weapons, jewelry with amber and glass inlays, and ongoing interdisciplinary analyses of human remains and botanical materials.
Italian Version