Another Picene Chariot Burial from the 7th Century BC – History Blog

Another Picene chariot burial from the seventh century B.C. has been discovered in Corinaldo, in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region of central Italy. Like the previous burial, this one was located within a circular trench 100 feet in diameter and contained more than 150 artifacts. The rectangular pit was filled with two-wheeled iron chariots, bronze helmets, large bronze cauldrons, pottery vessels for food and drink, ornately decorated bronze vessels, and banquet utensils, including a bundle of kebabs and an iron axe used to prepare the meat.

In 2018, the first chariot burial from the first half of the 7th century BC was discovered on the site where the new sports center was planned to be built. Excavations revealed a large necropolis with Roman-era tombs and three circular ditches that predate the Roman era by several centuries. The circular ditches indicate that an ancient tomb had been located on the site. The rectangular tomb, 100 feet in diameter, was filled with precious grave goods, including a bronze helmet, a bundle of iron skewers, more than a hundred ceramic vessels, and a chariot with iron wheels. The rich contents of the burial mound and the tomb indicate that the deceased was a member of the Picenei noble elite, which earned him the nickname “Prince Corinaldo”.

Prince Corinaldo’s bronze helmet was found in pieces. It took four years of careful restoration to piece it back together so it could be displayed to the public as a real helmet rather than a Frisbee. The helmet in the newly discovered tomb is in much better condition, with the brim and base still intact. The dome had collapsed (or been destroyed), but its fragments were still in place and could be put back together more easily than a crushed helmet.

These archaeological discoveries indicate its connection with the Etruscan culture, with which the Picena nobility maintained exchanges and relations during that historical period.

Artifacts such as banquet utensils and food and drink containers found provide a fascinating window into the lives and customs of high-ranking figures in ancient Pisena society.