LA BESSA: GOLD, HISTORY AND FUTURE – 25 Years of the Gold and Bessa Museum

On Saturday, 10 October 2026, the international conference “La Bessa: Gold, History and Future” took place at the Città Studi Auditorium in Biella, Italy. The event was organised by the Association for the Valle Elvo e Serra Ecomuseum (ODV) to mark the 25th anniversary of the Gold and Bessa Museum. An afternoon dedicated to scientific exploration, international dialogue, and the promotion of the historical, archaeological, geological and environmental heritage of the Biella area. The Bessa Nature Reserve preserves one of the most extraordinary examples of a Roman-era mining landscape in Europe. A territory profoundly transformed by gold extraction in ancient times, where imposing accumulations of stones, archaeological remains and distinctive geological features tell a thousand-year-old story of human activity and landscape transformation. The significance of this heritage has been further recognised through the inclusion of the Bessa Nature Reserve in the Piedmont Regional Register of Geosites as a site of international geological importance. 🎓 THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE The event brought together scholars, researchers and experts from Italy and across Europe, providing an important opportunity for interdisciplinary discussion on mining activities in the ancient world. Through scientific presentations and contributions focusing on the Bessa and other European mining sites, the conference explored key topics including: The history of gold extraction during the Roman period. The techniques and knowledge employed in ancient mining activities. The transformation of territories and landscapes resulting from mining operations. The relationships between archaeology, geology, history and the environment. The preservation, study and promotion of Europe's mining heritage. An opportunity to place the Bessa within a broader international research context, recognising its significance not only as a testimony to the past but also as a cultural, scientific and environmental resource for the future. ----- 🏛️ 25 YEARS OF THE GOLD AND BESSA MUSEUM The conference represented one of the central events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Gold and Bessa Museum in Vermogno, Italy. An anniversary marking a quarter of a century of dedication to preservation, research and public education, thanks to the work of the Association for the Valle Elvo e Serra Ecomuseum (ODV) and the many individuals who have contributed to keeping knowledge of this heritage alive. The event celebrated this journey while looking towards the future through new research perspectives, international collaborations and initiatives designed to engage an increasingly wider audience with the history of the Bessa. ----- 🎥 THE VIDEO This video documents the international conference held on the afternoon of Saturday, 10 October 2026, at the Città Studi Auditorium in Biella, offering an opportunity to revisit the presentations and scientific contributions dedicated to the history, archaeology and future of the Bessa. ----- Event organised by: Associazione per l'Ecomuseo Valle Elvo e Serra ODV Venue: Città Studi Auditorium, Biella – Italy Date: 10 October 2026 🌐 Further information: https://www.ecomuseo.it #LaBessa #GoldMining #Archaeology