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T
he Bedolina area is today known mostly for called “topographic compositions”, which become,
one unique rock art panel, the big topograph- perhaps unexpectedly, one of the trickiest subjects
ic composition on rock n. 1 called the “Bedo- in camunian rock art. It is worth mentioning that
lina Map” (Anati 1960, Beltràn Lloris 1972, in the last few years were discovered many ancient-
Turconi 1997), and it has never been methodically
inspected. However, beyond this well–known rock,
the Bedolina area contains many other panels sur-
rounding the “Map” which constitute a remarkable
framework, yet poorly documented, for a system-
atic approach to the analysis of the whole rock art
site.
In general the imagery found in Bedolina links
both with Seradina below (ploughing scenes) and
the adjoining Dos Mirichì above, while at the same
time it does display marked characteristics of its
own, such as a noteworthy frequency of “camunian
roses” and the rare presence of so–called buccinae
(or cornua), representations of curved metal wind
instruments probably used during the middle and
final Iron Age and the Roman period. Very spo-
radic, like anywhere else on the slope, are huts and
footprints. As said, extraordinary and deservedly
famous is the large engraved image belonging to
the category of interconnected geometric elements,
or “maps”, which here crop up mainly in the area of
the small flats of lower Bedolina, that is in the sub-
area included in 2005 into the current grounds of
the Seradina–Bedolina Archaeological Park.
The uncommon density of engraved rocks and
the rich context of overhanging rock shelters make
this one of the most interesting places today for the
study of the relationship between rock art and the Fig. 1. View of the engraved rock during the grazing morning
archaeological–environmental context. Further, light. In the background stands the top of Pizzo Badile Camu-
the present discovery throws new light on the so– no (photo Alberto Marretta).
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Alberto Marretta
Fig. 2. A look on the thick assembling of pictures in the central part (photo Alberto Marretta).
most “maps” (final Neolithic/Copper Age) and they of rock n. 1, on a spot where the underlying rock
almost entirely belong to the Paspardo areas (Arcà surface slopes down a few metres until it reaches a
1999). The discovery and study of a new big “topo- small basin ending onto the vertical wall of a large,
graphic composition”, along with other cases of less natural rock shelter to the west. Already known
complex or sometimes single geometric elements, were the nearby marked rocks and, in particular,
nevertheless make Bedolina currently the primary rock n. 7 itself, mostly hidden beneath the mound,
centre of these particular layouts. with several warrior figures and some horsemen
showing on ground–level panels. The rock inspec-
The discovery tion, in view of the physical removal of the debris,
During the archaeological inspection and record- brought to light at once an extremely rich, decorat-
ing of decorated rock surfaces (directed by Lom- ed ensemble consisting mainly in a broad geomet-
bardy’s Archaeological Superintendence and the ric composition similar to the Bedolina Map, here
City of Capo di Ponte) undertaken on occasion of enriched with hundreds of human figures as well.
the setting up of the Archaeological Park (March– According to local memory this very surface
September 2005), the Centro Camuno di Studi Pre- and its “topographic” images has never been in
istorici thoroughly checked the engraved areas sub- open light during the XX century and was never
jected to intervention. previously recorded. The discovery, exceptional in
Operations to fix the pathway around rock n. itself and by itself for the quantity and the complex-
1 involved the removal of debris from the biggest ity of the subjects, throws off balance the ratio of
mound present in the area (boulders, rocks and the area’s “topographic” representations and their
pebbles heaped up by local residents in the course distribution in the zone under examination.
of land claims for farming purposes) with the aim
of securing some stone walls near the established A brief description of the imagery
path. The heap was located some 15 metres west Here is a limited account of the engravings appear-
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A new rock with “topographic compositions” discovered in Bedolina, Valcamonica, Italy
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Alberto Marretta
Fig. 5. Shape filled with cup–marks. One of the cup-marks Fig. 7. Group of small and elegant armed figures. Probably
has been inscribed into a smaller square, from which depart Middle Iron Age (photo Alberto Marretta).
a waving line going to other similar elements (photo Alberto
Marretta).
known in Valcamonica. Considering both the anal-
ogy with the Map, which was recently attributed
to the middle Iron Age (Turconi 1997), and the
preliminary stage of superimposition analysis, the
making of this panel should also be placed in a time
between the late Bronze and the middle Iron Age
(ca. 1,000/500 b.c.).
Particularly interesting, not only for dating pur-
poses but also in terms of the possible meaning of
such designs, is certainly the thick crowding of hu-
man figures — a unique characteristic here in the
broader context of Bedolina’s rocks. The humans
were carved in with markedly different tools and
“hands” and show all the sundry variations so far
Fig. 6. Tracing of Fig. 5 (Alberto Marretta). encountered on rock art sites of the western side of
Middle Valley.
tric rings positioned in the centre of the geometric The main subject is the armed human figure,
composition; pretty much characterized as follows:
— Numerous wavy lines joining the various — Warriors with a linear body, generally armed
above–defined geometric shapes; with spear (held upright) and a small oval shield.
— Big and deep cup–marks, clustered mostly in The figures are standing and front–facing. In some
the central zone, a few circled by a ring. Rare cup– cases, such humans acrobatically ride animals
filled quadrangular shapes topped by a triangle (most likely equids) sketched more schematically
(a comparable example occurs on the Rock of the than anywhere on Valcamonica rocks.
Map). — Duelling figures armed with a small shield
(the limb holding it is represented with the well–
The overall abstract design, apparently con- known depiction device called by some archaolo-
ceived as a whole (even though the different peck- gists “turn of the arm”) and a sword wielded fron-
ing tools and styles distinguishing some elements tally. These figures are always small and clustered
may suggest different authors or chronological mainly in the southern section.
phases) and obviously related to the figures of near- — Roughly shaped schematic figures, with hard-
by Bedolina Map, extends itself over many square to–recognize weaponry. These latter types are very
metres on the entire surface, sometimes following numerous, mostly crowding the upper central area.
ostensibly the underlying three�����������������
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dimensional mor- — Better detailed and bigger figures, with sword,
phology. This “topographic composition” is to date large hollow shield, and sometimes a helmet. They
the biggest and most complex design of this kind concentrate in the central–lower area.
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A new rock with “topographic compositions” discovered in Bedolina, Valcamonica, Italy