Un santuario celtico a Carona (Bergamo)? Ricerche e ritrovamenti nell’area del masso inciso CMS 1

A Celtic santuary at Carona (Bergamo)? Researches and findings in the area of the engraved rock CMS 1. During 2009 and 2010 some excavations were carried out in the area of the engraved rock CMS 1, after finding some preroman inscription engraved on its surface. Unfortunally no traces of ancient nor recent presence immediately around the rock were found, because of the erosion. Only by using a metal detector it was possible to recover some objects on the southwards slope of the terrace were the rock is situated. The most important objects found are a bronze fibula of Certosa type VI C, dating to the 5 th century BC and two pieces of aes rude that can be attributed to a period between the 5 th and the 3 rd century BC. This important findings confirm the haunting of the site in ancient periods, that correspond either to the 5 th century BC engraved figures and to the 3 rd -1 st century BC preroman inscriptions. This type of fibula and the aes rude are common votive gifts in sanctuaries of the Paleoveneti culture, in the alpine Brandopferplätze or in the sanctuaries near the alpine passes (Malnitzer Tauer, Austria). The aes rude was probably offered because of its pre-monetary value; from the 3 rd century BC, when a monetary economy is already established, coins are the usual offer in sanctuaryies of every kind. Many similarity with the Great S. Bernardo pass are reconfirmed, although the Valsecca pass, near the CMS 1 rock, should have had a very secondary role, because it could not be crossed by carriages, but only by foot.