Intact 7th-Century Etruscan Tomb Unearthed Near Rome!
A remarkable archaeological find has recently come to light in the San Giuliano Necropolis, nestled within the Marturanum Regional Park near Barbarano Romano in central Italy. A team from Baylor University, working in close partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Culture and the local heritage authority (Soprintendenza), has uncovered a completely untouched rock-cut Etruscan tomb dating to the late 7th century BCE, marking the final phase of the Orientalising period.
Photo Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la provincia di Viterbo e per l’Etruria Meridionale
What makes this discovery so extraordinary is its pristine condition. Of the more than 500 tombs scattered throughout the necropolis, the vast majority have sadly been plundered over the centuries. According to Dr Barbara Barbaro, Director of Archaeology at the Soprintendenza, “It’s incredibly rare to find a tomb that’s never been disturbed. Having a fully intact site not only ensures the preservation of its contents, but also provides a complete picture of the burial customs and cultural life of the time.”
After removing the massive stone slab sealing the entrance, archaeologists stepped into a remarkably preserved burial chamber. Inside, they found ceremonial objects meticulously arranged: dozens of painted ceramics in the distinct Etruscan-Geometric style, a basin, bronze ornaments, and a burial bed. Particularly intriguing was a vase placed right at the tomb’s entrance, possibly linked to a ritual carried out just before the tomb was sealed.
Although the excavation is still in its early stages, this find is already shedding new light on Etruscan social practices and beliefs about the afterlife. The team is carefully documenting the site through stratigraphic excavation before any items are removed for analysis.
Photo Credit: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la provincia di Viterbo e per l’Etruria Meridionale
This tomb forms part of a wider, long-term research and preservation initiative focused on the Queen’s Tomb area of the necropolis. This section is renowned for its impressive monuments, such as the towering 10-metre-high Tomba della Regina, as well as other richly decorated tombs like the Tomb of the Salamander, the Tomb of the Stag, and the Tomb of the Beds. Recent restoration work in 2023 and early 2024 has also brought other hidden treasures to light, including a carnelian scarab carved with the image of a warrior, discovered in a previously looted chamber.
Dr Barbaro described the moment of discovery as deeply moving. “Unsealing a tomb like this is a collective experience. It feels as though the doorway becomes a portal to the past, a silent connection with those who came before us. There’s a sense of awe, reverence, and shared humanity.”
She also stressed the importance of protecting such finds from illegal looting. “We’re proud to have saved this heritage from falling into the wrong hands. Now it can be studied and appreciated by everyone, rather than sold off for profit.”
The contents of the tomb will be preserved, analysed, and eventually put on display in museum exhibitions, opening up a new and important chapter in our understanding of the Etruscans, their customs, and their way of life.