Researchers have unearthed a massive 2,700-year-old burial site at Vulci, an ancient Etruscan settlement located north of Rome. Despite repeated attempts by tomb robbers over the centuries to plunder the grave, the chamber remains remarkably intact, yielding an extensive array of grave goods. The collection includes weapons, gold and bronze plates, chariot components, a rare pair of women’s shoes, and a complete banquet set.
Known as the Tomb of the Stone Chamber, the site was excavated this summer by the Return to Vulci project. This effort builds upon early work conducted by French archaeologist Stéphane Gsell in the late 19th century. In 1889, Gsell identified the circular enclosure of an Etruscan burial mound within the Vulci cemetery. Although he outlined what he believed to be the perimeter of the grave, he was unable to locate the actual tomb due to insufficient time and funding.
Christian Mazet, an archaeologist at the British Museum and co-director of the project, confirmed the significance of the find. “This is the burial. We are absolutely certain of it,” Mazet told Etruscan Times. He noted that the presence of weapons, chariot parts, gold objects, and high-quality ceramics leaves no doubt that this is a tomb of the very highest rank.
Dating back to the seventh century B.C., the excavation revealed the walls of three burial chambers. Artifacts such as jewelry, clothing, and footwear were found preserved beneath the collapsed roofs. The side chambers contained particularly rare items, including a bronze tripod manufactured on the Greek island of Rhodes, off Turkey’s southwest coast. Additionally, a nearly complete banquet set was recovered, with some vessels still in their original positions after centuries underground.
The Etruscan cemetery at Vulci is renowned for its wealthy tombs, thousands of which were uncovered during the 19th century. While the Indigenous Etruscans ruled central Italy for several centuries, their civilization began to decline in the fourth century B.C. due to the rise of Roman power. Today, much of what is known about the Etruscans comes from archaeological sites like Vulci, as their language remains only partially understood.
Gsell had previously estimated the tumulus diameter at approximately 102 feet (31 meters), referring to it as a “new Cuccumella” after the largest known Etruscan burial mound at the site, which measures roughly 230 feet (70 meters) across. Initial calculations by the Return to Vulci team suggest the newly discovered tomb may be comparable to or even larger than the Cuccumella mound.
“Everything tells us that it is one of the most monumental at Vulci,” Mazet said. The tomb and burial mound have been covered to ensure their preservation, with further research planned for 2027.
The comparison to Cuccumella is impressive. If it’s truly that large, it could reshape our understanding of Etruscan elite burial practices.
My ancestors’ history! Vulci has been underappreciated. Glad this project is bringing proper attention to these magnificent burial mounds.
Skeptical of the hype until I see more detailed analysis. But the British Museum’s involvement does lend some credibility to the claim of highest rank.
I wonder if the women’s shoes provide any clues about Etruscan fashion or social roles? Rare finds like that always shed new light.
Another reminder of how much we still don’t know about Etruscan culture. Their language remains only partially understood—what else is hidden?
Fascinating that such a lavish tomb survived centuries of looting. That banquet set must be incredibly delicate to preserve after 2700 years underground.