Ancient Burial Site At Vulci Reveals Treasure Of Coins Dated To 3rd Century B.C

AncientPages.com - A treasure of 15 large bronze coins dated to 3rd century B.C. was found intact, at the Vulci archaeological site, reports ANSA's news agency.

Most probably, the coins were stored in a leather bag and discovered above the closing tile of a burial site together with an iron strigil (a tool that was used to clean the body) and a number of ceramics, all included in a funeral ritual for two deceased.

One of those buried there, who was male, had another coin similar to the others placed on his left shoulder together with a bronze clasp, along with other objects in iron and ceramics that completed the burial kit. His death may have been the result of an iron object, possibly a spear, found near the skull.

The second of the two buried there was cremated and the incinerated bones were wrapped in a shroud that was likely closed with a bronze clasp that was found next to it and was nearly identical to the other. Other objects were found in the vestibule of the tomb together with another burial, including a small circular pyx (chalice) with a lead cover.

"More than 100 tombs have been excavated, dating between the middle of the 8th century to the 2nd century B.C.," Carlo Casi told ANSA's news agency. Casi, who is the scientific director at the Vulci Foundation, added that the discovery is part of "extensive and systematic investigations" that have been underway for years at the Poggetto Mengarelli necropolis.

"In this specific case, the study of the context is interesting, because it allows us to better define the social continuity between the Etruscans and the Romans, following the conquering of Rome that took place in 280 B.C."

The coins are part of the first Roman issue and have the prow of a boat on one side and the image of the god Janus Bifrons on the other, representing the passage of the dead from the world of the living to the underworld.

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