On Wednesday, 23 October, at Palazzo Economo, the headquarters of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for Friuli Venezia Giulia, the press was presented with the results of the research conducted by Ca' Foscari University of Venice, carried out under an excavation concession for the Ministry of Culture - Soprintendenza Archeologia fine arts and landscape for Friuli Venezia Giulia, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology of the Research Centre of the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts/ Znanstvenoraziskovalni centre Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics and the University of Siena.

The new investigations have made it possible to reconstruct, using modern excavation methods, the history of the north-eastern Adriatic region over a long chronological span of approximately 9,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Presenting the state of the research were Andrea Pessina, Regional Secretary of the MiC for Friuli Venezia Giulia, Roberto Micheli, Officer for the Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape Superintendency for Friuli Venezia Giulia, Federico Bernardini, Professor of Archaeological Research Methodology at the Department of Humanistic Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, and Elena Leghissa, from the Institute of Archaeology of the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts/ Znanstvenoraziskovalni centre Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti.

‘The excavation at the Tina Jama cave, carried out by an Italian-Slovenian team, aims to clarify various aspects of the recent prehistory of the northeastern Adriatic regions. The team employs a modern and rigorous approach while providing an important educational experience for both Italian and international students. "This project is not only about research; it also offers valuable learning opportunities for students," said excavation director Federico Bernardini.

‘Excavations at the Tina Jama cave have uncovered layers from the Bronze and Final Copper Age, dating back to the second half of the Third millennium BC’, added Elena Leghissa. ‘These findings are essential for understanding the technological, cultural, and social transformations in Europe during that period. Excavations will deepen our understanding of the various cultural facets of the Third millennium BC in the Caput Adriae region.’

According to Federico Bernaridini and Elena Leghissa, ‘the discovery of a rare copper dagger dating back to the second half of the Third millennium BC is an exceptional event that raises questions about the cave's use. Typically, such valuable artefacts are found in burial contexts.’

RESULTS OF THE EXCAVATIONS AND THE COPPER DAGGER
Near the summit of Mount Lanaro/Volnik, within the Tina Jama cave located in the Sgonico municipality of the Trieste Karst, Italian-Slovene research is reconstructing the history of the northeastern Adriatic region. This research employs modern excavation methods and spans a significant chronological period, from approximately 9000 to 4000 years ago.

The second excavation campaign is coming to completion. The campaign was conducted under ministerial concession and directed by Federico Bernardini of the Venice Centre for Digital and Public Humanities and the Centro Studi Archeologia Venezia of Ca' Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology of the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts/ Znanstvenoraziskovalni center Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the University of Siena and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The site owners, Marino Pernarcich and Paola Zivec, as well as the farms Marucelli Omar and Milič Zagrski, enthusiastically supported the fieldwork and provided crucial logistical support.
Recent excavations signify a revival of archaeological investigations in the Karst caves after several decades. These efforts have uncovered layers dating back to the Copper Age, where a rare copper dagger over 4,000 years old was discovered, along with numerous ceramic remains and stone artefacts.

A structure made of slabs and stone blocks was discovered, closing off the entrance of the cave probably between 2000 and 1500 B.C. The purpose of this structure remains unclear, but some fragments of human skulls found nearby suggest it may have had a funerary function. Alternatively, it might have been built to protect the interior of the cave from bora winds.
The ceramic materials that were retrieved on site and the presence of a hearth suggest that, prior to the creation of this structure, the cave was frequented by groups whose material culture had close contact with the Dalmatian area in the second half of the 3rd millennium B.C. (Cetina culture). The copper dagger comes from the copper-age levels; it is just under 10 cm long and has a leaf shape with a tang. Such finds do not have exact parallels in Italy, but the Tina Jama dagger can be compared with similar finds from the famous Dežman /Deschmann pile dwellings near Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Animals have uncovered various artefacts, including flint arrowheads, long blades made from the same material through pressure techniques, an obsidian object (volcanic glass sourced from southern Italy or central Europe), polished stone axes, other lithic and ceramic items, and shell ornaments. This evidence suggests that the cave has been visited for thousands of years and is promising for future excavation efforts.

OPEN DAY ON SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER: GUIDED TOURS AND EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
The press conference also presented the programme for the Open Day, which is being organised for Saturday, 26 October.
Two free guided tours of the excavations have been organised to inform citizens about the importance of the findings. On Saturday, 26 October 2024, the archaeologists supervising the work will lead visitors on an exploration of the site.
Time and meeting place for the guided tours: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the car park at the beginning of trail number 5A to Lanaro, roughly 300 m north of the Milič Zagrski tourist farm (https://www.miliczagrski.com/).
Walking up to the cave takes about half an hour at a good pace. Appropriate clothing and footwear are recommended. The visit will be cancelled in bad weather.
Reservation is required. Each guided tour has a maximum of 30 participants. To book, please write to: federico.bernardini@unive.it
Also on 26 October 2024, experimental archaeology activities will be organized at the Milič Zagrski farm near Sagrado/Zagradec in Slovenia. Activities include flint chipping, fire lighting and bone carving.
Recommended age: 6 years and up. The workshop is organised by Marco del Piccolo and Marco Rodriguez.