Human Footprints from the Bronze Age Left by People Fleeing a Vesuvian Eruption and Other Extraordinary Discoveries in Campania

During improvement works on the Diramazione Nocera-Cava dei Tirreni gas pipeline in the municipalities of Nocera Superiore, Nocera Inferiore, Roccapiemonte, and Castel San Giorgio (province of Salerno, Campania) in Italy, an impressive archaeological legacy has come to light, spanning from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity.

These discoveries, the result of meticulous research conducted over two years, have been made possible through the collaboration between the company SoGEArch srls, the Archaeological Superintendency of Salerno and Avellino, and the companies SNAM, Comis Srl, and CEM Srl.

Among the most striking discoveries are human and animal footprints from the Bronze Age near the Casarzano stream. These prints, preserved in the pyroclastic deposits from eruptions of the Somma-Vesuvius, tell the dramatic story of the terrified inhabitants fleeing the volcano’s violence.

Bronze age footprints volcano campania — Another view of the footprints left by Bronze Age people fleeing an eruption of Vesuvius. Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Salerno e Avellino

Additionally, the investigations revealed the existence of an ancient settlement dating back to the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age (1200/1150–900 BCE), characterized by absidal-shaped dwellings.

From the Hellenistic period (3rd–2nd centuries BCE), an extra-urban sanctuary near Nuceria Alfaterna was uncovered, located on a major communication route. Among the recovered objects were miniaturized ceramics, possibly used as votive offerings.

During the Roman period, the area hosted two monumental complexes identified as rustic villas dedicated to agricultural production. The identification of plow marks at various points on the site evidences intense agricultural activity, which was the foundation of the local economy.

These villas functioned not only as production centers but also as integral parts of an extensive regional trade network.

A notable aspect of the research is the reconstruction of the road network connecting Nuceria to its surroundings. More than 40 roads were identified, ranging from simple compacted earth tracks to more elaborate ones with cartwheel marks.

The transition from the Roman period to Late Antiquity is reflected in a set of tombs found in the area. These graves, lined and covered with tuff slabs decorated with engravings, primarily contained the remains of children accompanied by simple grave goods.

Additionally, a Roman rustic villa was repurposed as a cemetery, demonstrating the adaptation of structures for new uses. Among the tombs, a monumental sepulcher with a sarcophagus stands out, likely belonging to a high-ranking individual, along with an adjacent underground structure that may have been a martyrium, a place of worship dedicated to Christian martyrs.

In Late Antiquity, the area was inhabited by communities that built large huts reminiscent of protohistoric dwellings. This return to archaic housing models, likely influenced by socio-economic changes, reflects the resilience and adaptability of these communities to historical transformations.

The collection of findings demonstrates the continuous use of the territory over millennia, from the earliest human footprints to the societal adaptations in Late Antiquity.