Amazing Italian Neolithic Engravings in Part II Area

by Thomas Kummert www.paleolithic-neolithic.com Naquane National Park here include a four wheeled wagon, numerous This park is definitely a must see item on the warriors, deer hunting scenes, different forms of agenda of every Val Camonica rock art visitor. It buildings, solar boats and also inscriptions and is also a good starting point to get an idea about various stelae in a special area called “aquarium”. animal and human representations to be seen Four wheeled wagons are preferred motives and at the numerous sites in the valley. The park is indicate an active farming community during the situated on the eastern outskirts of Capo di Ponte. Iron Age in the valley. The engravings at Naquane Here you find the highest density of rock art. In the were created between 4,000 - 1,000 BC. So they park’s area of 300,000 m² there are a total of 100 belong to various periods from Neolithic, Copper-, engraved rocks. Bronze- to the Iron Age and the latter are of Camuni tribal origin. Many carved bedrock surfaces are rather large, for example the so-called “big rock” is densely Cemmo - Amazing Cult Sanctuary covered with over 800 motifs. The most amazing When you look to the opposite valley side, you images for us are always human depictions. We will find on the western outskirts of Capo di Ponte find various male and few female images here. the first pre-historic discovery in Val Camonica. Next to warriors, there are men with horned The Cemmo Cult Circle consists of various headgear or phallus symbols. Dancing scenes large engraved sandstone boulders and stelae. which we can see all over the world at rock art This megalithic sanctuary was constructed for sites are not missing here neither. ceremonial purposes. It was first used about 10,000 years ago and was extended several Some of the most fascinating images you can find times.

2 The semi-circular stone wall in front of two engraved boulders was erected during the Copper Age. 2,000 years later the circle was again extended with more stelae plus a raised wall during the Late Bronze Age. In total over 20 intact or fragmented vertical stone monoliths were erected. They were decorated with various telling motifs, such as solar signs, weapons, animals, ploughing scenes and even garments. deer, fawns, chamois, ibex, Ploughing Scenes pig or wild boar, cattle, For example six ploughing plus a group of dogs or scenes on one rock only wolves. Some depictions show yoked horses and not are even superimposed. The the typical oxen we know engravings are dated to the from other sites in Europe. Copper Age. So they could be dated to the Iron Age, because horses The “Cemmo 2” boulder or arrived in only towards menhir has a similar size and the end of the Late Bronze shows animals including ibex, Age. fawn, canid, wolf, dogs and weapons like axes, halberds The oldest plough scene and daggers. It also shows at Val Camonica with oxen human figures working with originates from the Copper ploughs and a four wheeled Age. Some of the engraved wagon. All engravings are figures possibly were done in regular fine pecking painted, as minimal rests technique, giving the images of ochre color have been a fine homogeneous look. attested on these stone stelae. “Cemmo 3” is a hewn stone slab or stele type monolith Astonishing Cemmo with decorations on three Boulders sides. The main face has a But let’s look closer at some of the famous and richly decorated Cemmo Boulders. Monolith “Cemmo 1” for example, also called the “puppet rock”, because it is covered with puppet like motifs. The rock has a triangular shape and measures 260 by 310 cm. Its 150 motifs include figures, animals, numerous daggers and ploughing scenes.

The animal images include

3 oversize with huge breasts or in case of a vulva accurate with a line or slit. Some experts believe ancient engravers did not use holes to depict female figures.

We have also heard of many thought provoking interpretations with regard to the “solar halo” including extraterrestrial interpretations. Rock art is very mythical, but also much more basic like pre-historic life was. The “solar halo” has possibly many other explanations. Please remember pre-historic human depictions never show a specific person, that changes only very solar image, dogs, deer, pigs, much later. are engraved with weapons like halberds, daggers plus the typical daggers and halberds, solar line of human figures with fringed They are motifs of goods, disks, wild animals and ploughing skirts. This stele is exhibited at shamans shown in trance or scenes. the Naquane Park “aquarium”. ancestors, but always as a figurative depiction and symbol. Female monolith motifs include “Cemmo 4” is a fragmented At a later stage I will explain the “T” face forms with eyebrows and stele. Its main face displays an helmets and hairdos. Still talking nose, double spirals eyes and interesting composition of an about the “Cemmo 4” stele, stylized breasts plus necklaces, oval form with 32 mini cup marks outside the oval circle an ax and collars, pendants and concentric plus three short vertical lines at dagger is shown. At a later stage circles. Cemmo and Anvoia for the top, inside the oval circle two deer and six fawns were added. example have the “T” shape face human figures are depicted with This stele is also exhibited at the motif in common. triangular upper body, their arms Naquane Park “aquarium”. and legs stretched out. Good examples for male monolith Male & Female Monolith are stele 1 at Bagnolo Ceresolo, Recent research shows that a First figurative rock art engraved stele 9 Plasagrop and total of 27 menhirs were erected on monolith goes back to the stele 8 at Ossimo. And typical at Cemmo. Not all were found in Copper Age starting in 2,900 female monolith are stele 4 and situ. For Cemmo the “T” shaped BC. Some were erected in a row C20 at Ossimo Anvoia, stele 6 face with eyebrows and nose whereby the main engraved side and 10 at Cemmo and stele 1 at is typical in comparison to the is pointing east. Cevo. fringed rectangle motif found at the three Ossimo monolithic V a r i o u s sites. experts have

studied the Various Theories Debunked m o t i v e s The taller figure has what one depicted on can call a “solar halo”, the smaller monolith and figure has an engraved small cup came to an mark or hole in the pubic area i n t e r e s t i n g indicating it to be of female sex. conclusion to It is worthwhile to mention, that divide them at other rock art sites these small into male holes were often created at a and female. later stage. In their opinion male In pre-history female sexual m o n o l i t h organs were either shown in

4 Monolith with both male and They were erected between above Capo di Ponte, this area female images exist too. In two stone mound areas and has again a high concentration the first phase from 2,900 BC engraved with solar symbols. of rock art. daggers were engraved and after 2,500 BC halberds, sun Recent excavations brought to In the five different sections you disks and ploughing scenes. This light that the site is far larger and will find about 150 engraved was followed after 2,200 BC by richer in findings than previously rocks. Seradina offers many anthropomorphic human figures thought. In addition they armed human figures from some also crowned by a sun discovered fireplaces, stone the Iron Age and Camuni disk. circles and votive offerings. Period. Including also musical But no burials or bones were instruments from the more The form of monolith also show found instead grave gifts were recent Roman Period and huge differences. Boulders with uncovered. These included again ploughing scenes plus flat surfaces were engraved, as arrow heads for male funerary an ancient alphabet and the Val well as carefully hewn stelae with rituals and vase, necklace, Camonia unique hut like images flat surfaces on all four sides with copper pendant and a wooden in various forms. Which are images carved on three sides. box for female burial rituals. explained more in detail further on. Megalithic Sanctuaries At Bagnolo Ceresolo only two In the whole valley there are monoliths were found so far. The huge Seradina Rock 12 various megalithic sanctuaries. Most of the monoliths can be for example has over 1,000 Some only have been discovered seen at the new museum in engravings, including an in recent years. Next to Cemmo Capo di Ponte. outstanding long line of horse there is Ossimo Anvoia made up men armed with spears going of various stelae. Seradina-Bedolina Park for a deer hunt with their trained As a third highlight around Capo dogs. In the neighborhood Pat is a di Ponte I would select this large site with 4,000 m² including amazing site. Situated higher up At Bedolina you can see one 30 stelae some of which were still at an altitude between 400 - 600 of the famous Val Camonica standing in their original place. meters on the western slopes maps, the possible origins

5 which I have described really were meant to at the beginning. be. This is supported That is what experts by the extended roof think the topographic holders starting at the compositions represent roof room base. - a regional map of the area. A few examples have round openings at the This huge bedrock is top storage floor or are covered with many marked with crossed irregular and crossed lines. Now image this lines, including also was all done for easy depictions interpreted air circulation on the as huts and squares upper floor and you now with precisely lined realize that this could small hollow cup marks or points rock art has a strong ideological be a granary or food storage representing fields. The 50 m² flat and symbolic expression. building on poles similar to rock surface next to the map has Therefore we have analysed those which can still be found similar motifs and hundreds of about thirty or more house in old villages in the Alps today. figures including warriors, animals depictions all created in the Capo and further geometric elements. di Ponte area. What is common House of Souls? to all of them? Another interpretation experts Easily one can recognise the so- have come up with is that of called “Camunian Rose”, which First they were created during the the house of souls. They base became the official logo of the Iron Age. All structures have two this on the fact that warriors Province at a later floors and an attic or roof room and water birds with special stage. plus a pitched roof and gables. symbolic value are shown The roof surface is marked with together. Nevertheless we House Like Images Analysed three to ten vertical holders doubt that for various reasons. Everybody has quickly the same of the roof coverage possibly interpretation at hand, when they stone plates. There are always First the human figures first see the house like depictions the same number left and right, and animals in the house unique to Val Camonica. The but the maximum could be up to structures are really the result image has everything a house twenty for larger structures. of superimpositions common needs, various floors and a pitched also to Val Camonica rock roof with gable. The lower floors are smaller in art. They result from earlier width and a central line runs up engravings and the houses But does it really represent a pre- to the pitch of the roof. This might were superimposed. historic house people lived in? We indicate wooden poles holding think not, because Val Camonica the heavy stone plate covered But the most obvious objection roof. But we also see variations and special features too. For example further vertical divisions of the lower floors might show the wooden structure. And a solid ground floor might indicate a stone built base. But we also found decorative features like a stepped enforcement from the smaller ground floor walls to the wider base of the second floor.

We discovered one interesting depiction with a double lined roof, which points clearly to what we think these house like structures

6 to the house of souls theory is engraved rock surfaces. The about an important ancient myth an important connection of the latter two are mountain sites of legendary heroes or war gods house like structures we see. close to villages with the same typical to the Iron Age? But we Most house depictions are found name. All are easy to be reached think the first is more possible, on the west side of the valley. by car and with a short distance but might not contradict the on foot. second idea and be based in its The few houses on the east side development on it. were engraved on the famous “Bedolina Map” next to what This might have introduced a experts believe to be fields, wells local tradition of ritual or training and roads. These five to six duels based on ancestral sagas. houses differ in structure from So let’s look at it more closely. the rest, they are straight and Warriors are shown alone with have three to four floors for more defensive weapons such as storage volume. And one even helmets and shields or interacting has a ladder to reach the raised with one another with aggressive storage floor. So the theory of weapons such as spears and being a granary structure is the swords. most closest for us. Please remember warriors in rock Ceto – – art are unique to Val Camonica Complex Heroes or Warriors? and mostly found at Paspardo, There are so many amazing We have already heard that the Foppe di Nardo and Zurla. rock art sites in the valley, that Camuni tribe was described I cannot describe them all, but by Roman historian and writer Horsemen Images just mention some of the most Strabo as having strong warriors As already explained horses important, which I have visited with special social status. Was were introduced to northern Italy during my week there. this a real warrior class society rather late during the Iron Age or just a depiction and story and represented social status of Foppe di Nardo is their owners. Again part of the Ceto we have a regional Reserve and has a site differentiation high concentration in horse depictions. of engravings with some large bedrock On the western surfaces and a valley side horse Copper Age cult site riders were also belongs to it. engraved in hunting scenes Paspardo has four armed only with main sites and long spears. On Cimbergo two, both the eastern valley again with some large side riders are

7 depicted with different weapons and engraved more as single images and seldom in a hunting scene.

But we also see so-called acrobatic images with riders standing on their horses. These engravings are interpreted by experts in various ways, either as part of the warrior story including sportive actions, or as initiation test and finally as myth.

This is the interesting part of rock art interpretation. Due to the missing writings and missing archaeological evidence from settlements, which were not yet found, we know close to nothing about the creators of Val Camonica rock art.

Conclusion Val Camonica is the largest and most interesting site in Europe and definitely worthwhile visiting when spending holidays in northern Italy. It is just north of Brecia and close to Largo Garda. Travel Tips Whoever is planning his next Italian holiday and considers a stopover in Visiting the Naquane National Val Camonica should get in touch with Acheocamuni in Capo di Ponte. Park will take you only an hour. But if you are really interested The owner Sara Rinetti speaks English and will organize everything for I would also visit the local you from private tours with expert guides, museum visits, books, to hotels museum and Cemmo cult ring and restaurants. You can also book an all-inclusive tour, which I did and can only recommend. all in Capo di Ponte. The sites are well indicated from the main We appreciated the bookings at the best local often hidden away road. And at the entrance of the restaurants in the valley. The food is Naquane National Park you will typically local, definitely non-tourist, surprisingly varied and always find Sara Rinetti, who is always excellent. And you are certainly the only non-Italian guests, which for me is proof enough as Italians know their chefs. helpful with any information you need and you can book a guide Archeocamuni, Mrs Sara Rinetti tel +39036442212 to take you around. www.archeocamuni.it mail: [email protected]

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