Francesca Gerosa, the Vice President and Provincial Councilor of Culture in Trento, shared an astonishing revelation about the recently uncovered necropolis, proclaiming that it unveils a completely new chapter in the history of the city. Translated from Italian, Gerosa emphasized that this significant find offers a profound insight into Trento’s past, portraying the city as more than just a Roman settlement. “We understand the immense importance of dedicating ourselves to research and safeguarding the heritage of our origins… and here we are tirelessly working to unveil a previously unknown segment of the city’s history,” she declared.
The complexity of the necropolis has captivated archaeologists and researchers who have been meticulously examining the burial ground. Towering limestone pillars were meticulously placed in an upright position to signify individual graves, akin to headstones, each corresponding to a stone box serving as the actual tomb. Among the numerous graves scattered throughout the surrounding area, archaeologists identified a prominent tomb distinguished by its mound structure.
Upon excavating the burial boxes, earth and calcined bones were unearthed, although not consistently found in ossuary vases, as was customary in Roman burial practices for cremated remains. Additionally, traces of fibers were discovered in some tombs, believed to originate from the fabrics that once enveloped the ashes of the deceased.
The burial chambers were rich with “grave goods,” encompassing ornamental artifacts, metal weapons, as well as objects crafted from amber and glass, indicative of cultural influences or connections to other Italic societies of the era. Franco Marzatico, the excavation’s lead archaeologist, proposed that the enigmatic settlers responsible for constructing the Trento necropolis might have played a role in the emergence of the Etruscan civilization that later thrived in the Alpine region.
Marzatico underscored the significance of the burial rituals, suggesting that they symbolize authority, prestige, and societal standing, shedding light on an elite segment of the ancient Trento population. This remarkable find not only deepens our understanding of the city’s past but also hints at the intricate social dynamics and cultural interactions that shaped the region during that time.
