The Highest Prehistoric Petroglyphs in Europe, Found in the Alps of Lombardy

The Lombardy region has been the site of an exceptional archaeological discovery: a series of petroglyphs found on Pizzo Tresero (Valfurva) within the Stelvio National Park at over 3,000 meters, making them the highest petroglyphs found in Europe and providing new clues about human presence in mountainous areas since ancient times.

The discovery began in the summer of 2017, when Tommaso Malinverno, a hiker from Como, reported to the Soprintendenza the existence of strange carvings on a rock at the foot of the Pizzo Tresero glacier. Following this report, archaeologists and scientists conducted detailed investigations, dating the petroglyphs to the Middle Bronze Age, approximately 3,600 to 3,200 years ago.

Simultaneously, in November 2024, another paleontological find was reported in the Orobie Valtellinesi Park: a fossilized ecosystem dating back 280 million years, from the Paleozoic era, underscoring the importance of this region as a “window to the past” in both biological and archaeological terms.

Petroglyphs Lombardy — Punta Segnale e Pizzo Tresero, the place of the find. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio delle province di Como, Lecco, Monza e Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio e Varese. / Regione Lombardia

The significance of these rock carvings lies not only in their age but also in their location: they are the highest petroglyphs found in Europe, situated in the alpine peaks.

The official presentation of the findings took place at the Lombardy Palace and was attended by prominent figures such as Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy Region, and Massimo Sertori, the local and mountain authority advisor, along with archaeology experts and representatives from the University of Bergamo.

For President Fontana, this discovery adds unique value to Lombardy’s cultural and natural heritage, sparking interest not only among specialists but also among those who visit the region for its beauty and history.

Fontana emphasized the importance of these petroglyphs as a testament to human presence at these altitudes during the Bronze Age, adding a new chapter to the European history of mountain civilizations.

Located at the Gavia Pass, the Tresero petroglyphs reflect the human imprint in high mountain lands from thousands of years ago. The carvings show a diverse technique and appear to have been made in different periods, suggesting a prolonged interaction of ancient communities with this place.

Moreover, the Tresero site is connected to other significant rock art sites in Valtellina and Val Camonica, the latter being the first Italian site to receive UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 1979.

Some researchers believe that the Tresero petroglyphs may have formed a rock “sanctuary”, an artistic complex similar to Monte Bego in the Maritime Alps, though at a much higher altitude.

Despite the wear caused by glacier activity over millennia, several of the figures have survived, albeit with evident traces of erosion. This suggests that the site might have contained more carvings in the past, now mostly erased by glacier movement.

This discovery positions the Stelvio National Park and the Alta Val de Gavia area as key enclaves for understanding the interaction between humans and European mountains. In the coming years, an extensive research project is planned to better understand how ancient communities inhabited and used resources in these areas, as well as how their relationship with the environment has changed over the centuries.