Lavagnone, Bronze Age archaeological site near Lake Garda, Italy
Lavagnone is an archaeological site with remains of prehistoric pile dwellings situated around a former lake basin in Desenzano del Garda, showing preserved wooden structures and artifacts. The property lies south of the A4 motorway and is accessible only during annual summer excavations conducted by the University of Milan.
The settlement at Lavagnone emerged during the Early Bronze Age around 2200 BC and shows multiple phases of occupation through the Late Bronze Age until 1200 BC. This long sequence indicates the site was inhabited and used over many generations.
Excavations at this site have uncovered ceramic vessels, household items, and structural elements that reveal how people lived during the Early Bronze Age in northern Italy. These finds show what tools and objects were part of everyday life back then.
The site lies on private property and is not normally open to the public, with excavation work occurring only during summer months. Visitors should check in advance whether and when access is available to plan a successful visit.
Excavations yielded a wooden plow dating to around 2000 BC, one of the oldest fully intact agricultural tools found anywhere in the world. This rare discovery shows that farming techniques had developed and been refined in this region very early on.
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