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Archaeologists have unearthed a 4,000 - yr - old copper dagger and sherd of human skull deep in a cave in Italy . The cave was clearly used for burials , but it also reserve the remains of an ancient hearth .
" The moment we learn the dagger was unforgettable,“Federico Bernardini , an archeologist at Ca ' Foscari University in Venice , say Live Science . " We could hardly believe it — finding alloy artifacts , especially a dagger , was wholly unexpected in this context . "
Archaeologists have determined that the copper dagger unearthed in the Tina Jama cave in northeastern Italy is about 4,000 years old.
burying in cave or rock shelters were usual in this region at this time , between 4,500 and 4,000 years ago , during the late Copper Age ( 2750 to 2200 B.C. ) and early Bronze Age ( 2200 to 950 B.C. ) . But the obelisk discovery was unexpected because such rare finds from these periods are usually at places of adoration , said Bernardini , who is execute the dig for the university in partnership with other Italian and Slovenian institutions and authorities .
" As we cautiously absent the terminal layer of soil , a flash of copper caught our attention , " Bernardini said in an e-mail , adding that they immediately recognized the significance of the finding .
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The blade of the copper dagger is attached to a “tang” to secure it in a handle of wood or bone; the handle has rotted away.(Image credit: Federico Bernardini)
The dagger is one of several artifacts unearthed in Tina Jama Cave , in the " Karst Plateau " of exposed and heavily weather limestone along Italy ’s northeasterly border with Slovenia . Along with other finds from the cave , the dagger is helping to pinpoint the historic period and technological skills of the unlike groups of people who occupy the cave at various times between 9,000 and 4,000 year ago .
" The investigations are still on-going , but they are allowing us to gather worthful data to restore the country ’s prehistory , " Bernardini tell .
Ancient cave
fit in to a translatedstatementfrom the university , the excavation have revealed layers from the terminal stages of the Copper Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age , before the closed book of adding canister to copper to make bronze was known .
In finicky , the finds from the second one-half of the third millenary B.C. are " all important for understanding the technological , cultural , and societal shift of Europe at that time,“Elena Leghissa , an archaeologist with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts who is leading the Slovenian team , said in the statement .
The archaeologists are " employing a rigorous methodological approach " while excavate the cave , Bernardini say , include the use of " structure - from - motion photogrammetry " to create virtual 3D maps from two - dimensional images .
The excavations at the Tina Jama cave near the town of Sgonico in Italy’s Trieste region are being conducted by Italian and Slovenian archaeologists.(Image credit: Federico Bernardini)
In summation , " the soil is carefully sieve with a 1 millimeter net to pick up as much information as potential , " he read .
Mysterious stones
One of the strangest feature of Tina Jama Cave is a construction that shut the entrance with Isidor Feinstein Stone slabs and blocks . It is guess to date to between 2000 and 1500 B.C. , or up to 500 years after the obelisk was aim there .
The construction ’s purpose is unknown , and it may have been reconstruct to shelter the cave ’s Department of the Interior from the strong and cold " bora " wind that screw up in this part from the northeast every wintertime . But the archaeologists also cerebrate it may have been related to sepulture in the cave , because pieces of human skulls have been found nearby .
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The soil from the excavations is carefully sieved through a metal screen to ensure that no important artifacts or bone fragments are missed.(Image credit: Federico Bernardini)
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" The skull fragment indicate that the cave was used as a burial blank space at certain times , though we need to wait forradiocarbon datingto advantageously empathize their chronology and possible link with the stone body structure , " Bernardini said .
The human remains in the cave include this jawbone thought to date from the Iron Age in this region, about 3,000 years ago.(Image credit: Gigliola Antonazzi)
The excavations have also revealed a " fireside " or hearth that seems to be quondam than the Harlan Stone bodily structure at the cave ’s entering . It suggests that , " prior to the twist of the stone structure , groups of people used the cave entrance , " Bernardini enjoin . " Based on part three findings , these groups seem to be colligate with the Cetina civilization from the Dalmatian region in advanced - daylight Croatia , " an other Bronze Age people , he told Live Science .
The archaeological team also found this flint arrowhead in the Tina Jama cave; they think it dates to the Copper Age, more than 4,000 years ago.(Image credit: Gigliola Antonazzi)
The archaeologists also found these perforated oyster shells, which may have been worn on a string as ornaments. They date to the Neolithic period, more than 7,000 years ago.(Image credit: Gigliola Antonazzi)
