At over 3,100 meters above sea level, on the glacier of the Vedretta di Lares in Trentino-Alto Adige, the remains of a soldier of the First World War were re-emerged. After more than a century kept by snow and ice, the remains came to light due to the progressive retreat of the glacier, a phenomenon increasingly frequent in recent years.
The discovery was made by the carabinieri of the Carisolo station together with the Alpine Rescue team of Madonna di Campiglio. Despite the decomposition of the human remains, the uniform and part of the equipment are surprisingly well preserved, offering precious historical information.
Analysis to reconstruct the identity of the soldier
The recovered material was transferred to the Laboratory of the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Trento, where it will be subjected to autopsy exams and historical studies. The goal is to try to trace the identity of the military, probably belonging to the Austro-Hungarian army, and thus give him a face and a name.
The authorities underlined how every discovery represents an important step in the work of recovering the historical memory of the Great War. Just the Alpine arc was the scene of very hard clashes, still leaving tangible traces of that conflict today.
It is not the first case
The Vedretta di Lares is not new to such discoveries: two years ago, in the same area, the remains of another soldier had been found. Even earlier, in 2022, twelve Austro-Hungarian soldiers had been found in a common pit above the Tonale pass, thanks to the research started after the discovery of the diary of an Italian officer.
These episodes do not only have a scientific value, but also a profound human meaning. Returning dignity to those who have lost their lives in war means strengthening the link with our collective history. Each discovery becomes an opportunity to remember the sacrifice of thousands of young people, often forgotten in the mountains and never returned from their families.
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