Italian archaeologists have made an important discovery near the city of Trieste in the north of the country. A 4000-year-old copper dagger found in the Tina Jama Cave will shed light on the mysteries of the Copper Age. In addition to the 10-centimeter-long leaf-shaped dagger, stone artifacts and ceramic pieces dating back to 2500 BC were also uncovered. Researchers from Ca' Foscari University in Venice and Slovenian scientists emphasize the significance of this discovery. Elena Leghissa states, "Such valuable items are usually found in graves. The discovery of such a dagger in a cave raises new questions about the purpose of its use." Researchers encountered many significant findings in the cave. Among these are a stone structure that blocked the cave entrance dating back to 2000-1500 BC, human skull fragments, an ancient hearth, flint arrowheads and knives, stone axes, obsidian, and shell ornaments. These findings indicate that the cave was used for different purposes over thousands of years. Particularly, the ceramic artifacts prove that the local population had connections with communities along the present-day Croatian coast. The excavation team believes that the cave holds more historical secrets and states that future excavations are eagerly anticipated. This discovery, along with the recently found 4000-year-old town remains in Saudi Arabia, provides important insights into humanity's transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one.
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