ANSAcom – In collaboration with the Valle d’Aosta Region
Almost two years ago, in August 2022, a small marmot mummy was found on the east face of Lyskamm, a glacier belonging to the Monte Rosa group. By chance, the mountain guide Corrado Gaspard, who had deviated from the normal route due to an interruption, had come across this very particular find in terms of appearance and preservation. Sensing that it could be an important discovery, the mountain guide reported the discovery of the artefact to the competent authorities. The small marmot, preserved by the ice and lying on a rock, in a collected position, as if wanting to protect or warm itself, curled up on its left side, was thus the object of study for almost two years. From next June 14th, it will be possible to see the Lyskamm Marmot at the Efisio Noussan Regional Museum of Natural Sciences. This unique and extraordinary specimen is considered the oldest mummified find in Italy and a discovery of considerable interest for the scientific community. Radiocarbon dating places it geologically in the Middle Holocene (about 6,600 years ago) and with respect to man in the Neolithic (4,691-4,501 BC). The Lyskamm Marmot will be exhibited in a case specially designed for its conservation, in which the internal environment is oxygen-free, with the possibility of customizing and calibrating the chemical-physical parameters, preventing deterioration.
ANSAcom – In collaboration with the Valle d’Aosta Region
