Until Saturday, March 31, 2018, the Départemental Museum of Wonders in Tende presents the exhibition “Iactatio,” which highlights the results of archaeological excavations conducted at the ancient Col de Tende, revealing the existence of an ancient high-altitude sanctuary.
The Col de Tende: Natural Border between the Italian Piedmont and the Alpes-Maritimes
The southern chain of the Alps has been, despite its altitude, a very important passageway for populations of all eras. Situated on a direct path between the Po plain and the Mediterranean coast, the Col de Tende represents one of the most well-known transalpine routes in the department since the Middle Ages.
A Unique High-Altitude Alpine Sanctuary in the Southern Alps
Archaeological discoveries made at this site since 1994 have led a team of scientists to conduct excavations that have just revealed the importance of this site for much more ancient times. Hundreds of Roman coins as well as votive deposits (ceramic shards, metal objects, ashes…) were uncovered at the very site of the ridge crossing, revealing a unique high-altitude alpine sanctuary in the southern Alps.
Rich with numerous original objects and an interactive scenography, this exhibition enables visitors to understand the history of this place and the rites associated with it, while explaining the continuity and universality of these passage cults across time and continents.
