The Bisenzio Project, an international and transdisciplinary initiative led by Andrea Babbi, a researcher at CNR ISPC (Italy’s National Research Council, Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences), and a long-time collaborator of the Leibniz Center for Archaeology in Mainz, has opened a new window into the past of the archaeological site of Bisenzio. This project has provided fundamental insights into the community that inhabited this region during the Iron Age.

Located on Mount Bisenzo, near Lake Bolsena in Italy, this site has proven to be an important aristocratic center that thrived during the Orientalizing and Archaic periods (7th-6th centuries BC), contradicting earlier theories that considered it a less significant settlement at the time.

The most recent research campaign, carried out in 2024, has led to a remarkable archaeological discovery. During these excavations, archaeologists uncovered a necropolis that had escaped looters, which is an unusual event, considering the damage caused by such acts at other sites.

Archaeologists unearth grave goods from the sarcophagus
Archaeologists unearth grave goods from the sarcophagus. Credit: Andrea Babbi / Cnr Ispc / LEIZA

The research team discovered several tombs dating from the 7th century BC to the late 6th century BC. Among this funerary set, particular interest was drawn to a group of graves located in an area protected by a partially preserved stone enclosure. It is believed these tombs belonged to a noble family, based on the discovery of a large stone sarcophagus and the rich funerary items that accompanied it, which is a clear indication of the respect and devotion the family members had for their ancestors.

Among the objects found outside the sarcophagus, a bronze situla (a ceremonial vessel) stands out, carefully recovered and restored by a team of conservators. This find is highly significant due to its state of preservation and ritual importance, as these vessels were used in high-ranking ceremonies, reinforcing the hypothesis that the individuals buried here belonged to a higher social class.

What makes this discovery particularly valuable is the state of preservation of the sarcophagus, an exceptional find in the field of archaeology. The sarcophagus, made of tuff stone, was found completely sealed, and inside it, archaeologists discovered a fully preserved human skeleton. This represents a rare case, as environmental conditions typically degrade human remains over the centuries.

The bronze situla found in the sarcophagus
The bronze situla found in the sarcophagus. Credit: Andrea Babbi / Cnr Ispc / LEIZA

Thanks to this unique preservation, experts can now carry out a series of osteoarchaeological, isotopic, and archaeogenomic analyses on the skeleton. These tests will help reconstruct the individual history of the person buried in this sarcophagus, who was likely a significant figure in the planning and construction of the monumental infrastructure recently discovered in the area, which highlights the rise of the Bisenzio community at that time.

The discovery of these tombs, arranged in a way that seems to suggest close family ties among the buried individuals, provides new evidence about the social organization of Bisenzio. The partially overlapping tombs suggest that lineage and family identity played a key role in how the deceased were organized and remembered.

The Bisenzio Project is not only relevant for the objects and structures discovered but also for the transdisciplinary approach used to interpret them. The project involves archaeologists, conservators, physical anthropologists, experts in ancient genetics, and other specialists who, working together, are creating a more detailed portrait of life and death in Bisenzio.

These investigations are providing new data on trade, political relations, and cultural connections between Bisenzio and other regions of the Mediterranean during the 7th and 6th centuries BC. The findings of the Bisenzio Project indicate that this settlement was not isolated, but actively participated in long-distance exchange networks, contributing to a better understanding of the development of pre-Roman societies in Italy.

SOURCES

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale

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