Discovered in August 1912 following the partial draining of Lake Bertignano in the municipality of Viverone (BI), the pirogue, more than 4 meters long, is at the Museum of the Territory in Biella, and is on display along with containers, jars and amphorae, used to transport oil, wine, fish sauce and fruit. These types of vessel, from protohistoric to medieval times, were mainly carriers of raw materials and finished products, they were also used for fishing and collecting lake plants used for weaving work.
Already the Roman poet Virgil documented the use of pirogues in northern Italy, specifying the importance of waterways as major ancient communication routes. In fact, the flat shape of the bottom and tapered bow allowed easy movement along the banks and reed beds and, when docking, to rest the bow directly on the shore.
Thanks to several artifacts found within the waters of Lake Bertignano, it was possible to determine that a settlement must have stood near it.
