Volterra tra il periodo tardo-villanoviano e l'Orientalizzante: testimonianze dalla necropoli delle Ripaie

The Ripaie necropolis is one of the main sources of knowledge about the ancient Iron Age of Volterra. Most of the tombs, all cremated in cavities excavated in the ground, date back to the 9th century, but the area is still occupied also later, even if the burials are not numerous. This paper analyzes in details the recent tombs of the necropolis, dating between the second half of the 8th and the 7th century. During the Late-Villanovian period the necropolis was occupied by rich cremation burials of remarkable people, who show their aristocratic status through rich and precious items. Some tombs refer to male chiefs buried with their set of weapons, exhibiting the rank of warriors. In the Orientalizing period few tombs of the necropolis, which still practise the rite of cremation, show continuity with the Villanovan traditions, but also some changes, not about the type of tomb, but for some new types of ceramics that are used for burial. The last burial of the Ripaie, dated to the end of the 7th century, consists now in a little chamber room, built and covered with a rudimentary false dome.