Prehistoric Settlement Discovered at Rocca di Manerba by British Archaeologists
Prehistoric man inhabited the Rocca di Manerba: a confirmation arrives precisely these days from English scholars, who are once again working in the natural area of the Valtenesi center for a series of excavations and surveys.
This new round of research was not actually planned: it was decided after, at the end of last summer’s excavation session, some artifacts deemed extremely interesting were discovered. From there, the decision by the team from University of Birmingham, directed by Professor Barfield, who has been excavating on the Rocca since the late 1970s, to resume work in the summer of 2001.
This fruitful decision has allowed, from the very first hours, conclusions that until now had only been hypothesized. The British team, under the direction of Barfield’s assistant Simon Buteaux, uncovered the remains of a wall structure built on a terrace, which are believed to date back to the Neolithic era.
These remains suggest the existence of a settled prehistoric settlement on the Rocca di Manerba. Other artifacts found in recent days seem to confirm this hypothesis: various objects have been uncovered, including a flint tool and a small axe-like implement made from a deer horn.
These findings also open up other hypotheses regarding the local fauna, as well as the dietary habits of the ancient, even very ancient, inhabitants of Manerba. “It’s not the first time that artifacts from the Neolithic have been found on the Rocca,” explains Brunella Portulano, curator of the Museo della Rocca di Manerba.
However, until now, it was thought that these artifacts were due to the passage of populations through this area: never before had the existence of a true settlement dating back to such an ancient period been considered.
Prehistoric inhabitants of Valtenesi
But who could these prehistoric residents of Valtenesi have been? “Certainly a people capable of extremely complex construction interventions,” explains Portulano. “We might be facing the terrace of very steep terrain, where a settlement of huts was built.
These people were also almost certainly hunters and fishermen; furthermore, they worked flint to craft tools and implements, likely trading with other peoples and bringing it to the site.” These conclusions are expected to soon receive definitive confirmation and more detailed understanding once the current excavation session, which will end at the close of this week, provides a more complete picture of the situation.
It is certain that the Rocca di Manerba never ceases to surprise: after the medieval and early-medieval findings that have been excavated, restored, and are now accessible via organized tours, recent discoveries include remains of a Roman-era structure.
This site is likely a place of worship that scholars tend to identify as a temple dedicated to Minerva (a detail supported by the toponym). The remains of a Roman villa located on a private property still need to be excavated.
An actual residential settlement, also confirmed by the discovery of mosaic tesserae and other artifacts, is currently hidden beneath the earth, awaiting further investigation.
