A secret submerged for 3,000 years: A mysterious statue with human fingerprints emerges from the depths of the sea.

 

Italy's Lake Bolsena

Divers have discovered a statue dating back more than 3,000 years in Italy's Lake Bolsena, revealing a rare aspect of daily life in the Iron Age.

A team of divers announced an extraordinary archaeological discovery at the bottom of Lake Bolsena in central Italy, where a small statue over three thousand years old was found.

The statue attracted attention not only because of its foot, but also because of the clear human fingerprints that were still preserved on its surface, giving researchers a direct window into the life of its maker in the early Iron Age.

The discovery was made at the submerged site of Grande Caro di Bolsena, near the village of Ayola, an area known for its volcanic springs and rich archaeological heritage. Although the site did not receive widespread attention when it was first identified in the early 1990s, it gradually became one of the most important submerged sites after studies revealed the remains of an ancient settlement built on wooden stilts beneath the lake's waters.

According to a statement from the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the statue represents an unfinished female figure, sculpted from clay that still bears the clear imprints of its maker. The ministry considers this discovery a unique find that sheds light on previously unknown details of daily life in southern Etruscany between the 10th and 9th centuries BC.

The researchers also noted traces of cloth on the statue's chest, suggesting it may have been covered or decorated before being placed in the water. This is unusual compared to similar pieces typically discovered in funerary contexts, and it supports the hypothesis that the statue was associated with domestic rituals or everyday practices rather than its usual religious and funerary use.

Since 1991, the site has gained increasing importance after its connection to ancient human activity was established. Research has revealed wooden posts, pottery, and stone piles within an area linked to thermal springs with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, which helped preserve the remains over the centuries. In 2020, excavations revealed an earthen mound beneath the stones, confirming that the area was part of an Iron Age stilt village that remained inhabited until the Roman period.

The research team, in collaboration with restoration teams and government divers, confirmed that work is still ongoing and that there is a high probability that there are other submerged villages yet to be discovered in the lake, which could greatly expand our understanding of the region's history and the customs of its ancient inhabitants.

This discovery represents a qualitative addition to the historical knowledge of the ancient inhabitants of Aeolus, as it sheds light on the relationship between daily rituals and domestic life in Etruscan society, and confirms that every artifact has a story that sheds light on hidden aspects of the past.