Museum of the Valchiavenna Valley

The Museum of the Valchiavenna Valley with an ax dedicated to the Stone Age is located just behind the Piazza Castello in Chiavenna, near the entrance to the Paradiso botanical-archaeological garden, by the seat of the Valchiavenna Library.
A large sculpture reproduces part of the important scenario of the Pian dei Cavalli plain in the S.Giacomo valley, where during the excavations led by Prof. Francesco Fedeli of the University of Naples there are remains of ancient life in the area have been found. There are even some finds from the Stone Age on display.

In the rooms dedicated to Roman times, recent finds are exhibited that have come to light in connection with construction work in the residential area of Chiavenna: a large number of finds (ceramics: terra sigillata, common pottery, with thin walls; glass and pot stone objects).
From the 19th century. and early 20th century Discovered finds have remained very little, scattered in private houses and museums in Lombardy. In the rooms of the Chiavenna Museum, some objects from the Bronze Age are also exhibited, including two knives and the beautiful sword from Villa di Chiavenna. A grave stele made of potted stone, an urn as a container for the ashes after a cremation, also made of potted stone and whatever else remains of the furnishings come from the Roman period.

Further ahead, near the commercial school, is the Bottonera mill from the 19th century. to see. It is a rare example of the milling industry at that time. The system is still efficient and you can wander through the various work processes on the individual floors: from sweeping, to moistening, weighing and grinding to sieving, etc. This then turned into soft or durum wheat flour and you got By-products such as bran, meal
and groats from processing.

Showroom about the Stone Age

This showroom offers a An introduction to the oldest history of the Valchiavenna Valley area through a selection of finds and information obtained from archaeological excavations carried out by Prof. Francesco Fedele, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Naples, on the Pian dei Cavalli plain in the Spl & uuml ; has directed gental.
Among them there are a number of important discoveries. A lot of space is given to the most original and fascinating chapter that has come to light: the Mesotlithic (Middle Stone Age), which effectively corresponds to the time when man took the & ldquo; first steps & ldquo ; dared through the Alps (approx. 8500-5000 BC). The continuation of the various chapters of the Stone Age is shown vertically on the sign near the entrance to this room. The wall signs allow a general overview of the archaeological search and show innumerable photographs.

Sequence of the stone testimonies in the Valchiavenna valley

Time runs from bottom to top. The most important archaeological sites in the valley are related to the Stone Age known in Europe. Particularly noteworthy is the unique find by Borghetto: an object made of pebble that seems to date from the Stone Age over 35,000 years ago.

SOME VETRINES OF THE EXHIBITION

Splinter stones: Raw materials
The hunters from the Stone Age, whose area was in the upper Spl & uuml; gental, they made objects from fragmented stone using pebbles and large quartz crystals (the pebble comes from outside the Alps, so it came from quite a distance). In the vetrine, the lines connecting the finds represent the technological process, the fragmentation of the raw material, through the core to the splinters, the blades and the waste. The local quartzite, however, was only used very rarely. The finds come from sites 1 and 18 on the Pian dei Cavalli plain.

Light a fire
While hunting in the mountains, could Lighting a fire to warm yourself or to give fire signals can be vital. The widespread use of the fire of the Stone Age hunters is not only from the charcoal, but also from the thermal changes in the soil and on the stone works of art (& ldquo; micro bowls & rdquo; with walls that run on the inside through the Flame have turned red, etc.). The slate "hoe" was found in a fireplace in Cavalli-1 along with the large splinter from Vetrine 9.

Bow and arrow
In the sporadic warehouse of the Pian Pian dei Cavalli plain, the Stone Age hunters left countless traces of the use of bows and arrows: these are microyphical elements on the tip of the arrows that made up the armor. These tiny elements made of stone were triangular, crescent-shaped and, in the later Stone Age, also pointed to a trapezoidal shape; The unique black trail of the pitch on which it was attached to the spear is visible on a trapeze. Another type of armor was the micro-lamellas with a thick side, or "back". The finds in the Vetrine come from Cavalli-1 and 17; Reproductions of arrows are on display in Vetrine 10.

& Ouml; Opening times
By appointment with Comunit & agrave; Montana della Valchiavenna

Prices
Entry: & euro; 2.00
Discount: & euro; 1.00 (young people up to 18 years of age, groups of pupils, groups of at least 15 people, pensioners)

Information and bookings:
Consorzio per la Promozione Turistica della Valchiavenna
Via C. Chiavennaschi 11- 23022 Chiavenna (SO)
Tel +39 0343/37485- Fax +39 0343/37361
consorzioturistico@valchiavenna.com
www.valchiavenna.com

REGION: Val Chiavenna Museum/Museums/Sights