Massive 2,500-year-old burial ground unearthed in Italian Alps. See its treasures
A development project in a city of northern Italy quickly morphed into a large-scale archaeological dig when the first traces of an ancient burial ground reemerged. The site, dating back over 2,500 years, is a rare find for the Alpine area.
Archaeologists began work in the historic downtown of Trento ahead of a planned restoration and redevelopment. They expected to find medieval and ancient Roman ruins, but the biggest surprise waited almost 30 feet down, according to a Feb. 11 news release from the Press Office of the Trento Provincial Council.
Deep below the modern road, archaeologists found a massive burial ground with over 200 tombs dating between 2,500 and 2,900 years old, officials said.
Photos show the long-forgotten graveyard. Vertical tombstones mark many of the burials, which typically included cremated remains and artifacts placed inside a stone box, archaeologists said. The tallest tombstones were over 7 feet tall.
A few tombs had urn-like vases, but most of the remains were wrapped in fabric, officials said and a photo shows.
Excavations also uncovered a variety of artifacts in the graves, including metal weapons and ornamental items. Photos show a few of these treasures.
One tomb had a pile of rusty blue-green rings, about the size of bracelets, a photo shows. In another, archaeologists found a decorated pin-like item.
Other photos show a rusty spearhead found in one tomb and an unidentified fan-like object found in another.
Archaeologists described the burial ground as a rare find for the Alpine area and well-preserved due to its location in a historically flood-prone area.
Excavations at the Trento site are ongoing. Archaeologists hope to better understand the social context of the ancient community and its burial rituals.
Trento is an Alpine city in northern Italy and a roughly 375-mile drive north from Rome.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Press Office of the Trento Provincial Council.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM with the headline "Massive 2,500-year-old burial ground unearthed in Italian Alps. See its treasures."
