In the Osteria necropolis of Vulci, a wealthy Etruscan city in what is now central Italy, a two-chamber tomb remains intact and holds an exceptionally rare trove of remains and artifacts. This discovery has drawn wide attention in regional archaeology.
Unearthed in April 2023, the tomb is about 2,600 years old. The assemblage includes ceramics, amphorae, plates, bowls, and bronze cauldrons, all preserved in remarkable condition. A tablecloth used in an Etruscan religious ritual known as the last meal, burned inside the tomb before sealing it, survives as a notable feature of the interred hierarchy and ceremonial practice.
The grave lies cut into soft volcanic tuff. The first chamber held four amphorae used for local wine, while the second chamber contained locally produced wares alongside black bucchero pottery, as well as amphorae and ceramics from eastern Greece, Ionia, and Corinth. Scholars believe two amphorae in the second chamber originated from the island of Chios, where highly prized Greco-Roman wines were produced. This detail reinforces Vulci’s role as a major hub within Etruria, a region corresponding to today’s Lazio and Maremma.
The Etruscans were an advanced civilization known for early urban planning and technical achievements, including one of the earliest sewer systems in the ancient world. The Romans later borrowed many cultural and technological elements from the Etruscans and gradually integrated them into their own society.
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