Since 1830, archaeologist knew about the 120 tombs on a hill side in Tuscany, Italy. The tombs dated to the 7th to 6th centuries BC. But only recently did they discover in the same area an ancient temple of a cult.
The temple was part of
the ancient Etruscan necropolis of Sasso Pinzuto. It includes plenty of
artifacts, such as clay tablets that give details about the funerary rituals of
the time, some of which may have lasted for centuries.
Known as an oikos—a house
of the deity—the temple provides a window into the architecture of the ritual
sites of the day. It includes a transverse atrium and 3 rooms oriented
north-northeast.
Since the 1830s, researchers
have found about 120 chamber tombs. Three mounds contain the bulk of the
burials. North of the largest mound, they found 9 small pits dug for additional
burials. It was near these pits that the temple was discovered. Experts believe
the site was for Etruscan elites.
The architecture of the
burial grounds shows the style of ancient tombs, with chambers dug into rock,
divided into rooms that could be used for multiple generations of the same
family.
Archaeologists also
found information that helps depict what happened inside the temple. Decorated
clay slabs show ceremonies chronicling everything from the use of horsemen and
chariots to the purpose of dancers and musicians during banquets.
They also found the
remains of clay and metal furnishings in the temple that appear to have been in
use at the time.
Now, as I remember it,
the Etruscans were around before the Romans appeared. But at the time I heard
about them (many long years ago), there wasn’t much known about them, so I was
excited to see this article.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-found-a-cult-s-secret-temple-hidden-among-ancient-tombs/ar-BB1qTqQI?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=4b29427ca0eb40e9a777238542e8cbdc&ei=31
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