The site of Ossimo-Pat in the Val Camonica is a large megalithic sanctuary dating to the Copper Age, which was also in use between the Final Bronze Age and the Iron Age: a significant example of prehistoric Alpine megalithism that has its own specificities.
The 2017 season investigated part of the sanctuary characterized by a north-south alignment of Chalcolithic menhirs decorated with figured scenes, and votive circles to the north of the latter (sectors A and B), which extended to the eastern end of the terrace of Pat: – the stratigraphy in the housings of the dislodged menhirs (either slipped, fallen or knocked down) was checked. Four of these negative structures, which presented elements for wedging the monuments, were identified and documented, respectively PAT 6 (UUSS 290, 291, 292), PAT 11 (UUSS 267, 268, 287), PAT 12 (UUSS 269, 270, 288) and PAT 15 (UUSS 293, 294, 295). All the pits, dug into the terrain sloping west to east, were excavated in order to create a stepped housing (the side at the top was higher than the one downhill) structured with stone wedges that differed according to the size of the menhir to be supported and rendered stable. In the housing of PAT 12 US 270 a fragment of stone stele (Pat 34) had been used as a wedge. It was incised with “feminine” motifs (necklace and double-spiral pendants); – the investigation of the votive enclosures, with “male” and “female” offerings, situated in the north and north-western parts of the sector, was completed. In addition, a new enclosure was excavated, constituted by two stone circles (internal US 296, external US 178). The deposit that filled them (US 289) contained flint weapons: a dagger and the point of an arrowhead (RR 395, 396); – Three trenches were opened to the west of the row of menhirs and the votive enclosures in order to verify the continuation of the archaeological deposit (T. 1 west of the monoliths Pat 22-14; T. 2 west of Pat 6; T. 3 west of the votive circles). The checks relate to the beginning of the definitive project to enhance the site within the network, begun in 2005, of prehistoric megalithic sanctuaries of the UNESCO site “Arte rupestre della Valle Camonica”, which includes the National Archaeological Park of the Massi di Cemmo (2005), the municipal Archaeological Park of Ossimo-Anvoia (2005), the Archaeological site of Corni Freschi di Darfo BoarioTerme (2009) and the Archaeological site of Borno-Valzel de Undine (2013).

During the campaign, the graphic recording of the decorated menhirs present on the site was completed, as well as of those housed in the National Museum of the Prehistory of the Val Camonica since 2013. The recording used rubbings, tracings, digital and 3D photography. Lastly, the archaeo-astronomic study of the site continued (using GIS and Viewshed analysis) in addition to work on the dating of the buried stone surfaces.