Lake Ledro lies not far from Lake Garda in Northern Italy. The banks of this lake were already inhabited during the Bronze Age, some 4,000 years ago. Archaeological excavations have uncovered many remains of lake dwellings or stilt houses in the village of Molina di Ledro on the eastern side of the lake. A number of replicas have been built here next to the Museo delle Palafitte, which provides visitors with an interesting overview of the history of the original settlements.
These prehistoric remains were first brought to
light in 1929 when the water level in the lake was lowered during a water
treatment operation. It seems to have been a very large settlement covering
around 4,500 m2 standing on as many as 10,000 posts. Because of the large amount
of pottery and other objects found here at that time, the decision was taken to
mount a large-scale archaeological research programme.
After that, however, the site was not maintained, resulting in the remains
being plundered. There were many robberies and further damage was also caused
by amateur archaeologists digging without permission. It was not until 1960 that
the site was properly protected and investigated, thanks to intervention by the
Antiquities Office of Padua which at that time had responsibility for the Ledro
region. Excavations carried out in 1961, 1965 and 1967 produced a significant
amount of interesting material.
Museum
The museum was created to display the finds and to give visitors an impression
of the cultural, social and economic life of the settlement. Building began in 1968 and the museum opened in 1972. In
a modern style using glass and wood, the museum sits neatly in its surroundings
without placing any visual barriers between the finds inside the museum and the
site outside where they were discovered.
Finds
The display cabinets in the museum contain a variety of ceramics in brown or red.
These include large smooth bullet-shaped jugs designed to hold food and beakers
and mugs, many of which are still almost intact. Among the terracotta tools,
the most fascinating are the so-called ‘mysterious’ objects: these are rectangular
pieces which, before they were fired in the oven, were inscribed with points
and lines of which the purpose and meaning are unknown.
The finds also included the remains of domestic and wild animals, food remains
and sediments left in jugs and pitchers. From these it has been possible to
reconstruct the eating habits of the ancient inhabitants. There is also a
diverse collection of bronze objects and weapons: axes, daggers with triangular
blades, needles and at least four crowns or diadems which would have been used
as ornaments on the head. Also on display in the museum is an elegant geometric
artefact which is heavily engraved and has on the outside elaborate T-shaped
ends.
Further exhibits include diverse
objects made from wood, bone and horn, as well as photographic reproductions of
an interesting piece of textile: a linen belt which was found folded together
and rolled up so that the most visible part was a striking diamond pattern on
both ends. Also remarkable is the large quantity of amber beads, which would
probably have been strung together to form a necklace.
In the middle of the hall inside the museum is a
canoe 4.5 metres long by 75 centimetres wide, hewn out of an enormous pine tree.
Other archaeological finds from the excavations in Ledro can also be seen in
the collections of the Museo del Castello del Buonconsiglio and the Museo
Tridentino di Scienze Naturali.
Stilt houses
On the shore of the lake next to the Museo delle
Palafitte stand reconstructions of several of the original huts. It is not
known whether these reconstructions are scientifically accurate because the
excavations have not produced any information about the details of their
construction. Nevertheless they serve as a visual representation emphasising
the importance of this very remarkable archaeological site.
Museo delle Palafitte
Via Lungolago 1, Molina
Opening times
March–June and September–November: 9.00 to 17.00.
Closed
Mondays.
July–August: 10.00 to 18.00. Open every day.
Admission prices:
€ 3.50 full amount
€ 2.50 reduced tariff
€ 7.00 family ticket (parents with children)
Free entry for children up to 6 years old.
Text Harrie Wolters
Translation Alun Harvey
