Divers Stumble on 3000-Yr-Old Ritualistic Looking Unfinished Clay Figure With Fresh Finger Prints in a Volcanic Lake

Deep beneath the waters of Lake Bolsena, in central Italy, archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery that has left the academic world stunned. A 3,000-year-old clay figurine, dating back to the Iron Age, has been discovered at the submerged archeological site of Gran Carro di Bolsena in Aiola. Although finding ancient artifacts is no big deal during historical digs, what makes it truly extraordinary is something else that experts never thought they would ever experience, stated Popular Mechanics.

Intriguingly, the clay figurine comprises fingerprints left by the artisan who crafted it centuries ago. The artifact believed to depict a female form, is a palm-sized, unfinished clay sculpture. Researchers indicate it was created between the 9th and 10th centuries B.C. The mere presence of unique fingerprints on its surface has opened a window into the past, helping archaeologists to learn more about the unknown craftsman who lived millennia ago. Experts believe that it is an incredible moment for archaeology where one can literally feel the past. It is not just some other sculpture; it is a direct imprint of human history. This not-so-tiny figurine was discovered in an area that was once a residential area, a stilt-house village that was at its peak during the Iron Age, stated The Jerusalem Post.

A translated version from an official statement noted, "During the works being carried out within the PNRR in Lake Bolsena in the submerged protohistoric site of Gran Carro aimed at creating an underwater path, a female clay figurine was found from the area of ​​the settlement. This is an exceptional find, unique at the moment from this important archaeological context which is giving us back aspects of daily life in the early Iron Age (late 10th century B.C.-early 9th century B.C.) which are still little known in southern Etruria. The barely sketched figurine, even in its female connotations, is made of undercooked clay, and still shows the signs of the fingerprints of the person who modeled it and the imprint of a fabric texture under the chest, a sign that it was probably "dressed". The figurine finds contemporary comparisons mainly in funerary depositions.”

The statement further reads, "Its discovery in a residential area inside one of the structures that are coming to light is to be considered of a votive nature, probably related to some type of domestic ritual, as also attested in later periods."

While similar artifacts have been found in funerary contexts, experts are puzzled by this artifact’s placement in a domestic environment. This discovery poses questions about whether it was used in daily household rituals or if it had a spiritual or symbolic aspect. Intriguingly, the presence of a woven fabric imprint under its chest indicates that the figurine may have once been flaunted, further topping up the mystery, according to Interesting Engineering.

This stellar discovery was made by the Underwater Archaeology Service team, with assistance from the Italian Cultural Property Restoration team and government divers. Their hard work has been proven beneficial in retrieving and preserving the sensitive artifacts from the volcanic depths of the lake. Lake Bolsena, one of the largest volcanic lakes in Italy, has long been a site of fascination. The discovery of the Aiola settlement, once overlooked by archaeologists, began in 1991 when experts located submerged rock formations and wooden poles highlighting early human habitation, stated Interesting Engineering.