Melting Glaciers Reveal Hundreds of World War I Munitions in Italian Dolomites
Explosive remnants from the White War, buried for over a century, are being uncovered due to receding ice.
Hundreds of World War I-era munitions have been discovered in the Italian Dolomites, exposed by melting glaciers after more than a century under ice and snow. Approximately 250 artillery shells, mortar bombs, and other explosives were found in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy, according to the Italian army’s Julia Alpine Brigade.
The ordnance dates back to the White War, or “Guerra Bianca,” fought between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces from 1915 to 1918. Hikers and mountain workers in the Primiero Valley in eastern Trentino first reported the discoveries.
In June, an unexploded 90-millimeter mortar was found near Caldonazzo in the Valsugana region after a vehicle accident. Firefighters spotting the shell prompted a bomb squad intervention.
The Julia Alpine Brigade conducted a mission from August to October 16 to clear the munitions before the onset of winter snow. The operation required significant mountaineering skills to access remote, high-altitude areas with challenging terrain.
While finding World War I and II remnants in the Alps is not uncommon, unusually low snowfall in the preceding year and a recent heatwave have accelerated glacial retreat, leading to a higher number of exposed munitions. "It is very much a consequence of global heating," Stefano Morosini, a professor at the University of Bergamo, told The Guardian. He added that some of the unearthed items had already detonated, but many remained dangerous.
Authorities are cautioning the public to avoid handling any discovered munitions and to report them to the relevant authorities immediately.