Date:

Painted tomb discovered at Pontecagnano necropolis

Archaeologists have discovered a painted tomb depicting Italic warriors during excavations at the Pontecagnano necropolis.

The Pontecagnano necropolis is located adjacent to an ancient Villanovan settlement (early Etruscan), which emerged east of the present-day city of Salerno, Italy.

- Advertisement -

Previous excavations of the necropolis have yielded over 9,000 tombs and burials, dating from 3,000 BC during the Bronze Age, to the 3rd century AD in the Roman era.

In a press announcement by the Superintendence of Archaeology, fine arts, and landscape for the provinces of Salerno and Avellino, a team of archaeologists have excavated a painted tomb from the 4th century BC, following the initial discovery during construction works.

The tomb, designed number 10043, is lined with travertine blocks of stone and contains various imagery depicting scenes of Italic warriors. One of the warriors is shown riding a horse armed with a spear, while another warrior is cloaked and carrying what appears to be a club. The side walls are decorated with ornamental festoons and imagery of pomegranates.

The tomb belonged to a high-status individual, who was buried with a gold leaf crown, of which only several fragments have been persevered. The tomb was likely constructed during the Etruscan expansion into the Salerno region and southern Italy, which would later be annexed by Greek colonists.

- Advertisement -

According to the archaeologists, the discovery is a rarely in the wider necropolis, as only a handful of painted tombs from this period having previously been discovered.

Superintendence of Archaeology, fine arts, and landscape for the provinces of Salerno and Avellino

- Advertisement -

Stay Updated: Follow us on iOS, Android, Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and our newsletter

spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

1,800-year-old cemetery for Roman cavalry horses discovered in Stuttgart suburb

Archaeologists from the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) have discovered a large cemetery for Roman calvary horses during housing development works in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany.

Detectorist pair discover a nationally significant Anglo-Saxon hoard

Almost like an episode from the BBC comedy series Detectorists, a pair of metal detectorists have uncovered an Anglo-Saxon hoard in the southwest of England - a discovery described as nationally significant.

Traces of Gloucester’s Roman past revealed in new findings

Archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology have uncovered significant Roman remains during investigations at the Centre Severn development site in Barnwood, a suburb of Gloucester, England.

Study tells of family’s terrifying final moments at Roman Pompeii

A new study published in the E-Journal of the Pompeii Excavations sheds light on the final moments of a family living in Pompeii during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Archaeologists discover burials from the Iron Age and Viking Era

Archaeologists from the State Historical Museums and Arkeologerna recently completed an investigation of a significant burial site in Linköping, Sweden.

Hidden fortune discovered in Czech countryside

A 7-kilogram treasure hoard has been discovered by hikers on Zvičina Hill, located in Třebihošť-Mostek, Czechia.

Pre-war Jewish district uncovered in Lublin

Archaeologists from the Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments have uncovered traces of Lublin’s pre-war Jewish district during construction works at Zamkowa and Podwale streets.

Ornately decorated sarcophagus unearthed in “City of Gladiators”

Excavations in Stratonikeia, located in the Yatağan district of Muğla in southwestern Türkiye, have unearthed a 2,000-year-old sarcophagus from the Roman Imperial Age.