The best-known and most significant rock carvings in Valcamonica were first discovered in 1909 by Walter Laeng, a Brescian geographer. He announced his finding of two carvings on two boulders on the Pian del Greppe near Cemmo.
The area where the rock carvings were most plentiful was in the lowest section of the valley between the Concarena and Pizzo Badile Camuno peaks. All the figures had been carved on a solid rock complex and were mainly Permian period sandstone.
Four different great periods of carving can be identified that correspond to the evolution of Cammunic society:
- Upper Palaeolithic (about 8000 B C.) showing scenes depicting hunting and early civilisation.
- Neolithic (4000-3000 BC) towards the end of the glaciation period, the first depictions of a religious nature appear. The human figure became fundamental to the carvings along with depictions of daily life. This period was the high point in Cammunic art.
- Eneolithic (3000-2000 BC) the quality of the drawings improved and they almost became a narrative with highly detailed hunting and rural life scenes. A very important element is the appearance scenes depicting female initiation rituals.
- After 1000 BC the isolation of the Cammuni ended and they began to meet new people, often while defending their territory. Battle scenes are carved into the rocks as well as drawings showing huts, wagons, harvests and weapons. This was when Cammunic art was at its highest point and from then on it began to wane.
History, art and culture
The first rock drawings by man date back to the Pre-Boreal climatic interval in the eighth millennium that was characterised by dense pine and birch tree forestation. The first hunters from the Camunni tribe lived in this habitat. The inhabitants lived in groups on the hillsides and not the valley floor especially during thaws, as landslides were commonplace.
Between the 16th century BC and 476 AD, the Valcamonica was occupied by the Romans. There were iron mines in this area and Celtic craftsmen were able to produce high-quality steel from it. Full governmental autonomy and Roman citizenship was granted to the residents of the area. Even during Roman times, Valcamonica sustained raiding parties by Barbarians. The Herulians arrived after the fall of the Roman Empire and were followed by the Ostrogoths who brought much death and destruction in 542 The Longobards ruled the valley between 568 and 774 when it was taken over by the Franks.
Over the course of time, Benedictines were sent to the valley with the aim of bringing Christianity to the community. They built churches and alms-houses to help the needy.
Around the year 1000, the farming community began to feel some sense of self-identity and to request self-rule. This was how “le Vicinie” were formed, an association of “vicini” (from the Latin “vicus” = “village”).
“Comunes” started to appear after 1164 with approval of the Emperor Federico.
From 1428, Valcamonica came under the Republic of Venice even though there were many disputes between Milan and Venice over the acquisition of the valleys. Peace only arrived in 1454.
The thriving economy of Valcamonica was based on wool production by the monks. but pastoral work, especially in the high valleys was also important. The villages that had iron mines began to gain importance.
Brescia was overcome by the French in 1769 and Valcamonica took the name of “Cantone della Montagna” (Canton of the mountain) and was split up into seven townships. The borough of Serio was formed in 1797 and included the Comunes on the right bank of the River Oglio whereas Comunes on the left bank came under Brescia. In 1801 all of Valcamonica broke away from Brescian jurisdiction and its annexation by Serio.
Agriculture and stock farming suffered drastically during Napoleonic rule.
Austria re-annexed the valleys to Serio. Between 1815 and 1818, Valcamonica was stricken by famine and plague.
At the start of the period of the Kingdom of Italy, the 52 Comunes were split up in the three districts of Breno, Edolo and Pisogne with Breno as the main district.
Starting from the 1880’s, an economic depression led to people beginning to leave the valleys.
A programme of industrial development was implemented in the early 1900’s.
WWI brought great hardship and poverty to the people of Valcamonica who almost to a man took part in the anti-fascist movement during WWII.
Valcamonica ranges from the Tonale Pass to Lake Iseo. Its territory has been changed over the years by glacial movement and the slow-flowing River Oglio. It is split towards the North by two enormous Alpine ranges that are both more than 3,500 metres (11,482 feet) high: the Adamello-Presanella and l’Ortles-Cevedale. Because of its special geographical layout, the valley is sub-divided into three sections:
- Alta (high) Valle Camonica
- – Alta (medium) Valle Camonica
- Alta (low) Valle Camonica
The valley has two very large natural reserves (Adamello and Stelvio) and can claim an artistic/historical heritage covering 10,000 years. This makes it unique amongst all the Alpine valleys.
UNESCO INSCRIPTION
Arte rupestre della Val Camonica (Rock Drawings in Valcamonica)
Inscription N° 94 1979 C (iii) (vi)
Criterion (iii): bears unique (or at least extraordinary) testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation, either currently existing or from the past.
Criterion (vi): is directly or materially connected to modern events or traditions, by way of ideas, via creeds or artistic or literary works having exceptional universal values (the committee believes that this criterion justifies the inclusion in lists only in exceptional circumstances, when taken together with other cultural or natural criteria).
Valcamonica is an originally area and is in the lower Alpine regions of Lombardy. It is home to the greatest complex of rock drawings in Sub-Alpine Italy and there are approximately 250,000 petroglyphs drawn on hundreds of exposed rocks show scenes depicting agriculture, navigation, war and magic.
