Aspetti rituali, memorie e segni del potere nei tumuli delle Colombaie di Volterra

The paper presents the preliminary results of the archaeological research carried out in the Etruscan necropolis of Colombaie located on the western side of Volterra. The excavations have so far revealed three tumulus tombs, a new typology for Volterra, already well documented in other neighbouring areas, such as Val di Cecina and Val d’Elsa. These tombs date back to the Late Orientalizing and Early Archaic period (late 7th-mid 6th century B.C.). Two of the tombs consist of hypogean square chambers built with stone blocks, covered by a false dome and surrounded by stone tambours, while the third structure is still being excavated. Tumulus 2 is the oldest, with a burial chamber found intact, containing the remains of two inhumated elderly women. The grave goods included valuable objects such as a bronze basin and iron weapons, reflecting the high social rank of the deceased. Other cremation burials were later included in this Tumulus. The more recent Tumulus 1 is connected to Tumulus 2 by a wall section, which does not seem to have a practical function, but rather symbolises a tangible link between the people buried in the two monuments. Many centuries after the construction and use of the Etruscan mounds, the Colombaie area once again hosted Late Roman burials, demonstrating the long use of this site as a burial place.