In Italy, the royal tomb of a warrior prince was uncovered, along with the remains of his weapons and chariot. The tomb was part of a burial ground from the sixth century B.C. It was found in the small town of Sirolo, which is located by the Adriatic Sea on Italy’s east coast.
A group of people called the Piceni or Picentes lived in the area in the sixth century B.C. There are very few written records associated with them, so experts have to learn about these ancient peoples mainly through archaeological excavations. The latest discovery of the royal tomb will help to provide more information about this little-known ancient civilization.
Researchers unearthed the burial of a male individual from a royal background at the center of a monumental circular structure. The nobleman was found with a two-wheeled chariot that had been buried intact. The burial took place around 2,500 years ago.
Additionally, he was buried with an ax, a helmet, and several bronze vessels filled with organic remains that were sealed with ceramic lids. The vessels could contain the remains of food offerings for the afterlife.
The tomb of an elite woman was located next to the warrior prince. She was interred with textiles, shoes, and multiple metal safety pins that were likely used to fasten her clothing and burial shroud together. A larger pin and a chunk of amber were placed next to her head.
The newly discovered cemetery stands out from other royal burials in the Sirolo area. Most Piceni burials were ringed with a ditch, separating them from the world of the living, but this burial was surrounded by a circular wooden fence instead of a ditch.
Evenly spaced holes were found around the site, suggesting that fence posts had once been placed there.
The funerary complex also sits on a slight hill, overlooking the surrounding landscape. Its higher elevation may be to emphasize the importance of those who were buried there.
The cemetery may extend much farther than originally thought, so there could be even more artifacts out there, just waiting to be found.
“For the first time, we can observe not just a single tomb, but an entire aristocratic nucleus, with hierarchical and symbolic relationships that open new perspectives on the structure of the elites who governed the large Picene center that developed in the area of present-day Conero,” said Stefan Finocchi, the director of the excavation.
Many of the artifacts from the warrior prince’s tomb are still being analyzed and restored. Hopefully, they will contribute to expert knowledge of the Piceni elite.
Another notable discovery occurred in 2020, which was of a royal tomb with a collection of weapons, a helmet, and an iron-wheeled chariot.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
