Extraordinary Etruscan sarcophagus, urn captured from looters –

Italian authorities have seized a special collection of Etruscan urns, sarcophagi and grave goods from a tomb in the city of Pieve near Perugia in the Umbria region of central Italy. The objects include eight stone urns, two sarcophagi and a rich set of more than 50 grave goods dating to the last quarter of the 3rd century BC

In April this year, the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Department launched an investigation after receiving reports of possible illegal excavations in Ciudad Pieve. Photos circulated on illegal antiquities markets of large urns with reclining figures on the lids, a design typical of Etruscan funerary customs. Consulting archaeologists judged from the decorative style in the photos that the urns most likely originated from an Etruscan necropolis in the Chiusi region.

Investigations further narrowed the location to an Etruscan crypt associated with the Pulfna clan, which first appeared in 2015 when a farmer stumbled upon it while plowing his fields. The discovery yielded four urns and two sarcophagi, all belonging to men. While the looted urns and sarcophagi appear to have belonged primarily to women, some were inscribed with the patronymic name “Pulfna.” That’s how investigators were able to pinpoint possible discovery sites.

Because urns and sarcophagi were large and heavy, looters had to have specialized mechanical tools, such as bulldozers and cranes. Only a few have the ability to muster such resources, giving authorities a short list of suspects. The main one is a local business owner whose company owns heavy earthmoving equipment and who happens to own land near the farm where Pulfner’s crypt was discovered in 2015.

Acting on information that the looted antiquities were about to be sold, the gendarmerie was authorized to tap the suspects’ cell phones, track them and monitor all their shenanigans with drones. With all this information, they were able to find where the object might be hiding and obtain a search warrant. The urn pictured was indeed found there and confiscated. Drone footage also revealed where the excavation was. According to archaeologists’ judgment, this is a two-chamber tomb. Unfortunately, archaeological exploration of the discovery site revealed that it had been completely destroyed by looters.

Nor did they handle their stolen items with care. One of the two sarcophagus lids was found among the debris outside the tomb. However, the surviving cover is intact and has the name VELIA LEFNI PULFNASA engraved on it. Inside was the skeleton of a woman about 40 years old.

Preliminary reconstructions of the ruined chambers assume that the sarcophagus and two of the most luxurious and ornate urns were located in the first chamber. The urns are made of local white travertine and feature reliefs depicting scenes of battle and hunting, Atalanta and Meliag hunting the Calydon boar, and an Etruscan version of Achilles The story of the killing of Troilus, one of the sons of King Priam, in the presence of a pair of Vanth (demons of hell). The body of the decapitated hero is located in front of the altar, lying on the belly of an upside-down horse. Achilles lifted the decapitated head by the hair. Their lids feature half-reclining figures representing the dead. They contain ash remains. The condition of preservation of these two urns is so exceptional that much of the painting and gilding has been preserved.

The main chamber also contains a large number of grave goods, including different forms of bronze pottery, including situae (buckets), olpai (jugs), oinochoai (wine pourers) and flasks. have
Still contains traces of balm and a bone comb. The four sides of the bronze mirror are decorated with figure carvings. One is decorated with a she-wolf feeding a child in the presence of several gods (Heracles and Minerva can be identified). The she-wolf suckling the boy is an obvious reference to foundational Roman mythology, even though the she-wolf did not have a second child. The story of Romulus is rarely depicted in Etruscan art, and further analysis is needed to confirm that this is what is mentioned on the mirror. It is worth noting that the mirror dates to the late 4th century BC, so it predates the tomb in which it was found. This is a family heirloom.

The other five urns are in a second underground room. One is engraved with the owner’s name (VEL PULFNA CLANTI…) and has a gorgon’s head protruding from a rat bush between recessed pilasters. The original paintings are extremely well preserved. Another urn is sleek and supported by two sphinxes, with a mature deceased carved on the lid. The other two people were half lying down
There is a graphic on the lid, but degradation after deposition renders the surface unreadable with the naked eye.

This recovery operation is considered one of the most important, not only because of the number and quality of the finds, but also because of their state of preservation and the fact that they came from the same place.

“The restoration of the Etruscan funerary environment in Ciudad Pieve reminds us of the importance of the archaeological, cultural and historical heritage for the whole of Italy,” commented Culture Minister Alessandro Giulio. “The restored elements of more than 50 funerary dowries, two sarcophagi, and eight urns offer a new opportunity to immerse ourselves in the fascinating Etruscan universe and once again tell the story of the complex stratification of society over thousands of years An essential fragment of Italy’s history and contributing to the formation of our national identity that is protected, preserved and enhanced here.”