The Etruscan necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto, located near Tuscania in the Italian region of Lazio, has been the subject of a new geophysical study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Naples Federico II, using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology to reveal hidden underground structures.

Etruscan cemeteries, particularly their tombs, are one of the main sources of information about this ancient civilization that inhabited central Italy in the first millennium BC. The tombs, often built in forms that mimic the homes of the living, offer a window into the past, revealing key aspects of the Etruscans’ religious beliefs, funerary customs, and social structure.

The Sasso Pinzuto necropolis is one of these important sites, and although previous archaeological studies had been conducted, no large-scale geophysical research had been undertaken until now.

Necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto
Geographical map of the province of Viterbo (edged by a dark-blue line) with location of its most important archaeological sites (red dots); b) Enlargement of the Sasso Pinzuto site, Tuscania, with the location of the two study areas. Credit: V. Paoletti et al.

The study, led by researcher Valeria Paoletti and her team, applied GPR to investigate two specific areas of the necropolis. Ground-penetrating radar is a non-invasive technique that detects buried structures by measuring contrasts in the electromagnetic properties of the subsurface. This technology has been widely used in archaeological studies, with promising results at other Etruscan and Roman sites in Italy.

The team used a 400 MHz GPR antenna to conduct surveys in two areas near previously excavated burial mounds. The first area encompasses a small plain that, according to the researchers, may have housed wooden structures adorned with relief plates, elements used in ceremonies honoring the deceased.

In the second area, located about 250 meters from the first, the studies focused on a tomb from the 6th century BC, known as the tomb of the black pigs, which showed evidence of earlier burials.

During the analysis of the collected data, several significant anomalies were detected. In the first area, circular zones without reflections were found, suggesting the presence of small cavities approximately 40 centimeters deep. These cavities could have been used to deposit funerary urns or for offerings.

Necropoli of Sasso Pinzuto
View of another area of the Etruscan Necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto. Credit: TAP (Tuscania Archaeological Project)

In the second area, areas without reflections surrounded by strong reflection signals were identified, indicating the possible existence of larger cavities or man-made structures carved into the volcanic tuff rock, a material commonly used in Etruscan constructions.

The team’s discoveries not only confirm the presence of man-made structures beneath the necropolis but also provide valuable clues about how this cemetery was organized in antiquity. The high-amplitude reflections detected by the GPR suggest the existence of funerary chambers, corridors, and tombs, many of which have yet to be excavated.

In one of the investigated sectors, a partially excavated tuff block was found, which could be part of a monumental tomb. Around this block, the radar identified five small holes, each about 40 centimeters deep, which may have been used for funerary rituals.

The detailed analysis of the geophysical anomalies allowed the researchers to generate three-dimensional maps of the subsurface, providing a precise visualization of the buried structures. These images provide a solid basis for future excavations, enabling archaeologists to plan more focused interventions, optimizing resources and minimizing the risk of damaging the archaeological context.

Necropoli of Sasso Pinzuto
Depth-slices of the first area, where black lines point out high-amplitude reflections (orange-to-red filled contours). The slices were computed at depths of a) 0.54 m, b) at 1.21 m and c) 1.48 m, respectively. The red filled rectangle shows the position of the red tuff block brought to light during our survey. Credit: V. Paoletti et al.

The area of Tuscania, where the Sasso Pinzuto necropolis is located, is of great archaeological and geological interest. Situated on volcanic deposits from the Vulsini volcanic district, the region has witnessed significant explosive eruptions that have covered the area with layers of tuff and other pyroclastic materials. These geological features not only influenced the Etruscans’ funerary architecture, who carved their tombs directly into the volcanic rock, but also affect the archaeological study techniques used in the area.

In pre-Roman times, Tuscania was a prosperous Etruscan city, surrounded by several cemeteries, including Sasso Pinzuto. This particular cemetery is characterized by the presence of circular mounds (known as tumuli) containing chamber tombs. These tombs, typical of the wealthiest families in Etruscan society, are a testament to the power and influence this civilization exerted in the region before being absorbed by Rome toward the end of the first millennium BC.

The geophysical findings at Sasso Pinzuto open new avenues of research for archaeologists interested in the Etruscan civilization. Thanks to the precision of GPR, the team has been able to more accurately identify the location of buried structures, allowing for more controlled and less invasive excavations.

The study recommends conducting new geophysical campaigns in unexplored areas of the site, as well as integrating other non-invasive techniques such as magnetometry or electrical tomography.

SOURCES

Valeria Paoletti, Mauro La Manna, et al., GPR survey at the Etruscan necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto, Tuscania (Central Italy). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol.60, December 2024. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104833

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