Near Rome, archaeologists have dug up a rare find: an intact chamber grave from the seventh century BC. The bones and grave goods contained therein provide information about the ancient civilization of the Etruscans who lived in Italy in front of the Romans.
In the small community Barbarano Romano near San Giuliano, about 70 kilometers northwest of Rome, there is a necropolis that once belonged to a city of Etruscans. This culture existed in Central Italy from 800 to 90 BC, in today’s provinces of Tuscany, Umbria and Latium. From the late third century BC, the Etruscans were gradually conquered by the Romans and integrated into their culture. In the course of this development, the graves of the Etruscan necropolis near San Giuliano were looted over the centuries. Archaeologists have already exposed over 600 chamber graves there since 2016 – small houses carved in the rock with saddle roofs. But mostly they were empty.
Intact’s grave open
For the first time, archaeologists and art historians around Davide Zori from Baylor University in Texas in San Giuliano have found an intact, still distorted and unpotted chamber grave. In it they found the remains of four people who were on stone beds, as well as more than 100 grave goods that were remarkably well preserved.
Among the objects Iron weapons, bronze ornaments and delicate silver hairpinsIralsbut especially ceramicsvessels. In total, 74 were almost completely intact inside the grave Vessels found. Also an Etruscan drinking shell (Kylix) from the characteristic black glossy Bucchero-Ton found the archaeologists. First According to analyzes, are The ceramics 2600 years old and thus come from the seventh Century BC. Both Dead dead in the grave it could be two couples from act a man and a woman each. The grave content should now be examined in more detail and documented become more about the dead and their lives.
Rarely insight into the culture of the Etruscans
“This fully sealed burial chamber represents a rare find for Etruscan archeology,” says Zori. “In the inner hill region of Central Italy, a preserved chamber grave from this age has never been excavated. Co-author Jamie Aprile also speaks of “a breakthrough of considerable scientific value”, which “will redesign the discussion about Etruscan cultural development”. For example, the graves could provide information on how the etruscans of fire and urn burials were transferred to body burials or how strongly they were influenced by the Greeks.
Source: Baylor University
