In the Parco dell'Adamello, the iconographic documentation represented by the prehistoric rock art engravings found in some localities inside the protected area, is significant and important. The first representations of human beings appear in the V-VI millenium b.C, described in the typical position with the arms raised as an orant, together with figures and symbols derived from the agricultural and pastoral world: tamed animals (like canids and cattle) or circular and schematic symbols. The numerous findings made in the Park at heights beyond 1000 meters, in the towns of Malonno and Berzo Demo (Monte locality), where axes in polished stone have been recovered, should belong to the same period.
Initially, the figures are isolated and sporadic but gradually become more complex until they articulate in scenes. These are documented in the Naquane Park at Capo di Ponte and in the Rock Art Regional Reserve of Ceto, Cimbergo and Paspardo. A surge of ideological-religious influence of indoeuropean matrix joins between them some among the main areas of the Alps and introduces also two factors of prime economic and technological importance: the making of copper, the first metal tools and the wheel wagons, documented on the camunian statue-stele. These technological and ideological- religious influences led to deep modifications inside the local communities: the structure of the late-neolithic society changes, determining new roles and a more signed social stratification.
The following period, called Bronze Age, sees the consolidation of the processes started with the introduction of metallurgy, the structuring of centers for metallurgical production and the start of organized trade. In such context, more and more roles and expertise are defined inside communities: craftsmen, traders, farmers and a military power always stronger, where weapons acquire always greater importance. Indeed, in the rock art, representations of weapons described with care for details and accuracy become dominant if not exclusive. In most cases, they represent objects of prestige: axes, halberds, daggers, cudgels, while objects of a more common use are nearly all absent, like the arc and the spear. A figurative repertory already present in previous compositions: the "topographical maps", belongs to a late Bronze Age stage. These are characterized initially by extremely simple groups of curved lines, rectangles and cupmarks, until reaching, in the following stage of development, complex topographical representations. The mountain is subdivided in an upper sector, where the summer settlements are found, while villages and fortifications, with sedentary activities and economies, are placed in the below areas. Testimony of such, is the finding, inside the Parco Adamello, of fencings with massive megalithic walls and the bottom of huts that, at first glance, can be dated to the end of the Bronze Age and beginning of Iron Age.
The last millenium b.C is characterized by the affirmation, also in Italy, of the first great interregional political entities. At this stage, new topics and symbols, some of clear outer origin (etruscan, celtic and then roman), enrich the engravings.
The Iron Age is the period of highest proliferation of rock art in Valcamonica: the rocks are filled with thousands of figures showing a more proportionated and dynamic style regarding the previous.
In such great diversity, some repeated elements evidence themselves: there are groups of scenes with human figures that illustrate moments of daily and ritualistic life of the valley community (hunting, fighting and mithology scenes) and an extremely complex simbology is processed (five point stars, groups of cupmarks, etc.). The image sent out is that of a highly articulated community. Around 200 b.C. the camunian iconography begins to decay: the figures lose dynamism and become ungraceful in the stereotyped repetition of duels and combats. This stage of decay could have been determined by the first relationships with the roman civilization: ancient historical reports testify contacts between the roman armies and "the wild people" that inhabited the Alps. Livio, for example, tells of incursions and disorder of these tribes to the damages of the legions of Rome, facts that led up to a military campaign against the "Camunni" and other people, concluded with the conquest of these valleys by Rome, in the 16 b.C. It was the end, military and culturally, of the camunian world: the roman culture, with its organization, its economy and religion, permeated the valley world that was already going through a decaying stage. The ancient traditions were abandoned and only during the Middle Ages sporadic testimonies of a rock art iconography reappeared, inspired by the new religious motifs of Christianity.
A bit at a time, earth and vegetation covered the rocks and only recently, the work of archeologists is bringing them back to day light.

Made in collaboration with Arch. Tiziana Cittadini