A 3,000-year-old clay figurine believed to depict an ancient goddess has been discovered in Lake Bolsena, central Italy.
This artefact, found in the remnants of an early Iron Age village dating back to the 10th or 9th century B.C., measures about 6 inches (15 centimetres) in length. Impressively, it bears the visible handprints of its creator and patterns suggesting it was once clothed in fabric.
The figurine was excavated at the Gran Carro site on the lake’s eastern shore by a team comprising government archaeologists and police divers. This area, submerged due to seismic activity, has been an archaeological focal point since the 1960s, yielding artefacts like wooden objects, pottery, and jewellery that illuminate the early Iron Age’s societal structure.
The figurine’s primitive craftsmanship and the preserved fabric impressions hint at its role in domestic rituals, a practice common across Iron Age communities. The preservation of the artist’s handprints and the fabric imprint enhances our understanding of the ritualistic uses of such figurines.
Lake Bolsena, created between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago following volcanic eruptions, contains sites like the sunken village believed to have been built by the Villanovan culture, precursors to the Etruscans. This site is integral to Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, aiming to improve accessibility for tourists and researchers.
The discovery of the figurine near the site’s Aiola structure, believed to be near a geothermal spring, contributes to the broader historical narrative of Lake Bolsena, highlighting its significance during the Iron Age and Roman periods. This ongoing research continues to piece together the region’s historical puzzle.
