2000 Year Old Etruscan Tomb Discovered
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An Etruscan tomb more than 2,000 years old has been discovered by archaeologists in the hills of Tuscany at the town of Civitella Paganico, found to be perfectly preserved. A wealth of artifacts were uncovered inside, including urns bearing the remains of about 30 people.
Photo a mazZ
Andrea Marcocci, who led the digging at the site informed Reuters that the tomb probably dates from between the 1st and 3rd centuries B.C., when Etruscan power was in decline.
Yahoo News tells us that Marcocci had beliefs that a tomb existed in the area after work on a nearby road uncovered pieces of artifacts.
“It’s quite rare to find a tomb intact like this. When we found fragments outside, we thought we would find that the tomb had been violated. But the main burial room was completely intact.”
He said that a narrow corridor inside the tomb led to a small burial chamber about 6.5 feet (2 meters long) and 5.9 feet (1.79 meters) wide. Among the artifacts found in the chamber were about 80 objects including vases and mirrors in bronze and ceramic, and urns containing human remains.
“It’s quite exceptional to find so many objects in a tomb so small. Some of the vases (urns) were fairly small, so we think they were probably for children.” Marcocci said.
The Etruscans were one of Italy’s first and most mystifying civilizations, living north of Rome where the regions Tuscany and Umbria are at present day. Their civilization lasted for about 1,000 years, reaching its height roughly from the 7th to the 6th century B.C., before its cities were replaced by Roman settlements.
One of Italy’s first and most mysterious civilizations, the Etruscans lived north of Rome in present day regions of Tuscany and Umbria. Their civilization survived for about 1,000 years, reaching its height roughly from the 7th to the 6th century B.C., before its cities were replaced by Roman settlements.
To a great extent, what’s actually known about the Etruscans has been gained from other abundant burial sites that have been decorated with paintings and filled with vases and other artifacts.
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It really is amazing that we continue to learn so much of our past history due to finds like this, and much of it remains shrouded in mystery. Last week there was a report of a Stone Age settlement having been found in the English Channel which is estimated to be some 8,000 years old.
Now then, the one thing I do notice is that all of these finds are B.C. (Before Colin), does this mean that they are now catching up with me or what?…..I think I better go and crawl back under my stone hahaha
Fascinating information Deborah……wouldn’t it be great to be an archaeologist !!!!
It amazes me that there has been so many findings recently Colin.
Yes, I did read about the Stone Age settlement found in the English Channel and the race against time to try to salvage things. I was going to write about it but never received a reply for permission to use their photos, and no other were avaiable thru my searches, so I didn’t write about it.
Before Colin … haha, I can think of one other that might have an objection to that
Kim, that would make for a fascinating living to be an archaeoligist. Imagine the thrill when you unearth something and to be one of the few to see the artifacts first-hand!
Im studying the ancient civilization of Etruria at the moment, and I have to say that the Etruscan’s were the most innovative people, and their whole way of life was widely based around art, symbolism, and celebratory events, like that of funerary games. The Etruscan people loved life and did believe in life after death, so funerary rituals were often games and sporting events.
Frescoes of celebrations and love making are depicted in many of the Etruscan tombs during the 7th to 5th centuries BCE, but, due to the advancement of Roman warfare on Etruria, these scenes began to change, and, for the first time that we are knowledgeable of, Etruscan art started depicting demonic and evil scenes. The tombs lost all their colour and happiness, and instead were used to express fear and grief.
It is a shame that such an advanced civilization had to come to an end, especially by that of the Romans. In fact the Etruscan people were responsible for Ancient Rome’s advanced techniques, such as plumbing and the building of a strong Empire. This was due to an Etruscan ruler taking over Rome in the 7th century.
P.s, those of which that are interested in archaeology, can easily be a volunteer. Anyone that chooses to be an archaeologist as a proffession gets very little money indeed, especially considering digging sites are mainly made up of volunteers. x
Well you appear to have come away from your study with quite a vast knowledge about them, Keyla. Thanks for your contribution of information
I’ve often thought it would be very exciting to work on an excavation team to be present as treasures of life and artifacts unfold.
8,000 years old.