Europe’s highest petroglyphs unearthed in Lombardy’s mountains

An extraordinary archaeological discovery in Lombardy’s Stelvio National Park in Italy has revealed the highest rock engravings in Europe, etched into the glacier-polished rocks of Pizzo Tresero. These petroglyphs, located more than 3,000 meters above sea level, provide evidence of human activity in high-alтιтude mountain regions during the Middle Bronze Age, around 3,600 to 3,200 years ago.

Some of the petroglyphs found in the Lombardy Alps. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio delle province di Como, Lecco, Monza e Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio e Varese / Regione Lombardia

The discovery dates back to the summer of 2017, when hiker Tommaso Malinverno from Como reported peculiar carvings on rocks beneath the Pizzo Tresero glacier. His observations led the Soprintendenza to initiate detailed investigations. The findings were officially presented in November 2024 at Lombardy Palace, with key figures in attendance, including Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana, Mᴀssimo Sertori, Councillor for Local Authorities and Mountain Areas, and various archaeologists and researchers from insтιтutions such as the University of Bergamo.

The petroglyphs are located near the Gavia Pᴀss, a region already renowned for its rich archaeological heritage. The site connects with other significant rock art locations in Lombardy, including Val Camonica, recognized as Italy’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and the Valtellina region, home to the famed Rupe Magna in Grosio and the stele statues of Teglio.

Researchers believe the engravings, which display a variety of techniques and designs, may have been created by different individuals across extended periods. These findings suggest that Pizzo Tresero may have served as a small-scale sanctuary similar to Monte Bego in the Maritime Alps, albeit at a much higher alтιтude.

Stefano Rossi, an archaeologist from the Superintendence, remarked, “The Tresero petroglyphs are an exceptional research opportunity. They raise crucial questions about the complex relationship between humans and mountains over millennia. High-alтιтude exploration is often ᴀssociated with modern mountaineering, but these engravings demonstrate long-term human presence starting in prehistory.”

However, glacial activity over thousands of years has eroded many of the carvings, leaving striations on the rocks and potentially obliterating portions of a once larger rock art complex.

This discovery complements ongoing archaeological research in the region. Since 2022, investigations in nearby sites such as Malga dell’Alpe, Grotta Cameraccia, and Lago Nero have uncovered evidence of Mesolithic hunters traversing these areas more than 10,000 years ago.

The petroglyphs, alongside a recently uncovered 280-million-year-old fossilized ecosystem in the Orobie Valtellinesi Park, underscore Lombardy’s role as an “open-air archive” of history and biodiversity. According to Franco Claretti, Director of Stelvio National Park, the area’s significance extends beyond its natural beauty to include its archaeological and historical richness.

More information: Regione Lombardia