La necropoli etrusca delle Colombaie di Volterra: le recenti campagne di scavo

The archaeological excavation carried out on a large terrace near Le Colombaie in Volterra since 2016, and currently in progress, revealed the existence of an Etruscan necropolis overlooking the valley of the river Cecina, dating back to the Late Orientalizing period. It consists of two chamber tombs covered with a false dome and surmounted by a circular mound of earth and stones, while a third mound has recently been identified and is being explored. The discovery of the necropolis has provided new significant elements for the reconstruction of the history of the Volaterran settlement in Etruscan times, since the Orientalizing period is scarcely documented in this center, especially concerning the funeral aspects, and also because burial mounds were not yet attested in Volterra, while some are known in the surrounding area. The second tumulus, excavated during the archaeological campaigns 2020-21, appeared untouched and hosted five burials, both inhumated and cremated, as well as several grave goods, dating between the last decades of the seventh and the first of the sixth century B.C. This area was used as a burial place also in Late Roman period, as evidenced by some pit graves discovered near the Etruscan mounds.