Dust in high-redshift radio galaxies and the early evolution of spheroidal galaxies

Several lines of evidence suggest that early-type galaxies might have been very dusty during their initial evolutionary stages, characterized by intense star formation activity. The radio selection has provided, by far, the richest samples of high-z galaxies, which are most likely to be of early type; they may therefore yield crucial direct information on the period when the bulk of stars were born. In order to investigate the role of dust in these phases, we have analysed recent observations of a number of high-z radio galaxies in the framework of a self-consistent scenario for the evolution of early-type galaxies. The available data can be fully accounted for by 'opaque' models similar to that already used by Mazzei & De Zotti to fit the spectrum of the hyperluminous galaxy IRAS F10214 + 4724. However, there is still considerable latitude for models. Good fits can be obtained with galactic ages ranging from 0.05 to 2 Gyr. Crucial constraints may be provided by ground-based submillimetre (submm) measurements and by observations with the forthcoming Infrared Space Observatory (ISO).