Massive 2,300-year-old stone tomb at park in Italy went overlooked — until now. See it
The rock necropolis of San Giuliano promises a unique glimpse into the ancient culture that dominated Italy before the Romans. But only if visitors are able to trek down the ravines, correctly navigate the overgrown forest and locate the ruins.
Amidst the foliage, a massive 2,300-year-old tomb went unnoticed. It was hidden in plain sight — but not for much longer.
Officials launched a yearslong project to clean up the archaeological park in Barbarano Romano and restore some of its more than 500 tombs, the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape in Southern Etruria said in a Feb. 23 Facebook post.
Archaeologists started the cleaning project with one of the park’s most monumental ancient tombs: the Queen’s Tomb. A photo shows this large, 2,400-year-old stone structure.
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As archaeologists were clearing the area next to the Queen’s Tomb, they uncovered another stone structure, officials said.
Archaeologists identified the massive structure as a 2,300-year-old tomb. Outside, the rock-hewn tomb was shaped like a cube and had several fake doors. Inside, it had three burial chambers.
A photo shows the ancient tomb after excavations. Archaeologists did not specify how tall the newfound tomb is but the roughly 30-foot-tall Queen’s Tomb next to it serves as a reference point.
Like the other tombs at the rock necropolis of San Giuliano, the 2,300-year-old structure was built by the Etruscans.
The Etruscans were an ancient civilization located in modern-day Italy that reached its peak in the sixth century B.C. “Many features of Etruscan culture were adopted by the Romans, their successors to power in the peninsula,” according to Britannica
Cleaning and restoration work is ongoing at the rock necropolis of San Giuliano. The site is in Barbarano Romano and about 30 miles northwest of Rome.
Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape in Southern Etruria.
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