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Find from a crater lake in Lazio
In Lake Mezzano in the province of Viterbo (Lazio), underwater archaeologists have recovered a bronze sword dating from the 13th century BC, making it more than 3,200 years old. According to the relevant heritage authority, the Soprintendenza for the Province of Viterbo and Southern Etruria, the weapon was found on the southern shore of the lake during the final phase of this year’s research campaign.
The sword was located in an area that had previously been little explored. The authority published the report in early October. The weapon is in excellent condition and still has a sharp edge. It is the third sword to have been found in Lake Mezzano since the 1970s.
According to the Soprintendenza, the type and chronology are consistent with central Italian weapon production of the Late Bronze Age. A bronze razor was found nearby. The authority associates such combinations with individuals of high rank, possibly warriors from the upper class.
A village on stilts in the crater lake
Lake Mezzano fills the crater of an ancient volcano, the Latera caldera. At its bottom lies a pile-dwelling settlement which, according to archaeologists, was in use from around 1700 to 1150 BC. Research at the lake resumed in 2025 following a hiatus. The very first campaign yielded a wealth of material: more than 600 piles were mapped, corresponding to around a third of the settlement’s known extent. They stand in water depths ranging from 2.5 to 10 metres. At that time, the archaeologists also recovered over 25 bronze objects, including axes, spearheads, brooches, rings, a pin and a sickle.
The archaeologists attribute the excellent state of preservation of the metal objects to the lake bed: they lay on a dense layer of clay, which is low in oxygen and prevented oxidation. This year, further finds included more axes, arrowheads, daggers and numerous intact vessels.
Work is being carried out under difficult conditions. The archaeologists are using suction dredges to cut test trenches through the clay, often in poor visibility and in cold water. Divers from the Carabinieri diving unit in Rome are assisting with the work, ensuring safety and searching accessible areas with metal detectors.
According to the Soprintendenza, the search is also intended to prevent illegal excavations. Conservators secure the artefacts immediately upon recovery and begin the conservation process.
The research is set to continue in the coming years. Furthermore, the Soprintendenza has announced an exhibition of the Mezzano bronzes. The date and venue are not yet known. The authority is working with the municipality of Valentano to ensure the protection of and access to the site.
More information:
Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la provincia di Viterbo e per l'Etruria meridionale, press release on the recovery of the sword (6 October 2026)
Soprintendenza, report on the first campaign in 2025