A monumental Iron Age necropolis has been uncovered on Santa Croce Street in the heart of Trento, northern Italy, offering new insights into the region's ancient funerary practices. Dating from the 9th to 6th centuries BCE, this rare Alpine discovery sheds light on how early communities in the area expressed social status and cultural identity.

Led by Dr. Elisabetta Mottes from the Ufficio Beni Archeologici of Trento, with fieldwork coordinated by Drs. Michele Bassetti and Ester Zanichelli, the excavation reveals stone tombs marked by towering stelae up to 2.4 meters high. These stelae, aligned in subparallel north-south rows, highlight the burial sites of societal elites, surrounded by dense clusters of satellite graves.

The site’s location, nestled between ancient channels of the Fersina stream, has preserved the necropolis exceptionally well. Microstratigraphic analyses show evidence of complex funerary rituals, including cremated remains in ossuary vessels and textiles fastened with fibulae, hinting at ceremonial practices.

Artifacts recovered—meticulously restored by Susanna Fruet and Dr. Chiara Maggioni—include amber-inlaid ornaments, glass paste items, and weaponry. These objects reflect extensive trade networks and cultural exchanges with the Etruscans, Veneti, and Po Valley communities, challenging the notion of Alpine isolation during this era.

According to Superintendent Franco Marzatico, the necropolis offers a unique glimpse into an elite society that asserted power through symbolic funerary displays. Ongoing research by an interdisciplinary team will further explore the social structure, rituals, and connections of this fascinating Iron Age community.