A monumental Etruscan tomb has been discovered in the necropolis of San Giuliano, north of Rome. After years of work, a team of archaeologists unearthed an impressive Etruscan tomb that had remained partially hidden underground in the rock-cut necropolis of San Giuliano in the town of Barbarano, north of Rome.
The discovery occurred while researchers were cleaning and consolidating some of the rock-cut funerary chambers, dating from the 7th to the 3rd century BCE, which are the most representative of the site.
The necropolis houses more than 500 tombs spread over several levels along the slope of a hill, locally known as the Marturanum Regional Park. This mountainous area has been inhabited since ancient times by the Etruscan culture, renowned for its elaborate underground tombs.
During a clearance operation around the Queen’s Tomb, an imposing funeral construction resembling a parallelepiped measuring 14 meters wide and 10 meters high, archaeologists noticed what appeared to be a second semi-buried monumental tomb. After carefully removing the dense vegetation, the structure emerged in all its grandeur.
It is a unique tomb with three funerary chambers and three Doric doors sculpted into the rock. Surprisingly, the tomb is in perfect condition despite being hidden underground for centuries. Due to its architecture, experts estimate it could have been built in the 5th or 4th century BCE, shortly after the nearby Queen’s Tomb.
The discovery will help better understand the planning of the ancient necropolis and the various types of Etruscan tombs from that period. It also highlights the technical mastery of this culture in excavating monumental funerary structures within cliffs and rocky slopes.
Local authorities actively manage the area as a tourist attraction and to preserve this unique historical legacy. In fact, the necropolis houses the Museo Civico delle Necropoli Rupestri, where visitors can admire numerous artifacts unearthed in previous excavations.
The mayor of Barbarano Romano has stated, We are delighted with this discovery, which further enhances the archaeological value of our town. We will promote this area so that both locals and tourists can learn about the astonishing underground construction capabilities of the ancient Etruscan civilization.
Conservation and adaptation work on the newly discovered tombs is expected to be completed in the coming months. Then they can be opened to the public, expanding the cultural and historical offerings of this unique landscape where the Etruscan past seems to come alive among the rocks.
Sources
Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale
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