This discovery is expected to provide more information about the prehistoric people who lived in caves in Italy or buried their dead here.
Archaeologists have unearthed a 4,000-year-old copper dagger and human skull fragments in a deep cave in Italy. It seems that the cave was clearly used as a cemetery, but it is noteworthy that the remains of an old January were also found here.
”The moment we discovered the dagger was unforgettable, “ says archaeologist Federico Bernardini, noting that this discovery was completely unexpected for them: “We never expected to find metal artifacts, especially a dagger.”
During the Late Chalcolithic Period between 2,75 Dec – 2,200 Dec and the Early Bronze Age between 2,200 and 950 BC, the practice of burying the dead in caves and rock shelters was widespread in this region. But according to Bernardini, such rare finds usually turn up at places of worship, so the finding of the dagger was a surprising development.
”As we were carefully removing the last layers of soil, a copper glow caught our attention, ” says Bernardini, adding that they immediately realized the importance of the discovery.
Tina Jama Cave
The dagger is one of many artifacts discovered in the Tina Jama Cave, located in the Karst Plateau covered with extremely eroded limestones in northeastern Italy, near the border with Slovenia. Other finds unearthed in the cave help to understand how different communities in the region used the cave between 9,000 and 4,000 years ago.
Bernardini notes that the excavations are still ongoing, but have begun to provide valuable data that shed light on the prehistoric period of the region.
According to the statement made by the university, layers belonging to the last stages of the Chalcolithic Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age were uncovered during the excavations. This period coincides with the time period when people had not yet discovered the technique of adding tin to copper to produce bronze.
Archaeologist Elena Leghissa from the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts emphasizes that these finds, which date back to the second half of the third millennium, are of critical importance for understanding the technological, cultural and social transformations in Europe.
During the excavations, three-dimensional maps are created from two-dimensional images using the “structure-from-motion photogrammetry” method. In addition, according to Bernardini, carefully sifting the soil with 1 mm porous sieves ensures that as much information as possible is collected.
Interesting Stone Structures
One of the most interesting features of Tina Jama Cave is that the entrance is closed with stone slabs and blocks. It is believed that this structure dates from Dec. 2,000 BC to 1,500 BC and was built about 500 years after the dagger was left here.
The purpose of the structure is still unknown. Archaeologists think that this may have been built to provide a protection against the harsh “gust” wind that blows from the northeast to the area during the winter months. However, Bernardini and his team also assess that this stone structure may be connected with burial practices in the cave, because human skull fragments were found nearby.
“The skull fragments indicate that the cave was used as a burial place for some periods, but we need to wait for the results of radiocarbon dating to understand its connection with the stone structure, ” Bernardini says.
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