In the volcanic depths of Lake Bolsena in central Italy, archaeologists found a 3,000-year-old clay figurine. The figurine resembles a female form and still bears the fingerprints of the ancient artisan who crafted it millennia ago.
The discovery was made at the submerged archaeological site of Gran Carro di Bolsena by the Underwater Archaeology Service team. It was retrieved from the lake's volcanic waters. Subtle impressions left by the artisan's hands and traces of woven fabric once pressed against its surface are still visible, indicating the figurine was unfinished and may have been adorned with textiles.
Most artifacts of this kind are typically associated with funerary contexts. Experts from Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage believe it may have served a domestic spiritual function rather than being created for formal religious ceremonies. This suggests it could have had a votive or ceremonial role linked to household rituals or personal beliefs.
Gran Carro di Bolsena has been a treasure trove for artifacts from early Italian civilizations. The site has yielded wooden poles and ceramic fragments tied to the early Iron Age, preserved thanks to the natural conditions of the lake. The area is geologically active, rich in underwater thermal springs emitting gases and temperatures reaching up to 40°C, which may have influenced the placement of settlements.
The area wasn't on the archaeological radar until 1991 when divers noticed submerged stone piles and artifacts scattered across the lakebed, according to Popular Mechanics. Subsequent excavations revealed a stilt-house village dating back to the Iron Age. In 2020, experts found a mound of earth under the stones in the same area where wood and ceramic fragments were discovered, indicating continuous human presence.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.