Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery on Santa Croce Street in Trento, Italy, unearthing a monumental necropolis dating back to the 9th to 6th century BCE. The site, previously unknown to historians, features over 200 complete tombs containing metal artifacts such as weapons and ornamental objects made from amber and glass paste.
The necropolis was established in a marginal area of the riverbed subject to periodic flooding, which allowed for exceptional preservation of the funerary context. Researchers have documented the layout of the necropolis and reconstructed the funerary practices of the community through micro-excavation techniques.
The discovery provides new insights into the history of Trento as a city with cultural ties to civilizations such as the Etruscan, Phoenician, Greek, and Celtic. Archaeologists believe that the elite of this society deposited objects symbolizing their privileged status within these tombs.
Dr. Elisabetta Mottes is leading the archaeological investigation, while researchers from various institutions are involved in the discovery. The recovered artifacts are being restored using micro-excavation techniques to preserve fragile pieces such as ossuary vessels.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-841973