Archaeologists have unearthed a monumental necropolis in Italy’s northern Alpine city of Trento, revealing a previously unknown elite class of people who lived thousands of years ago. The site includes at least 200 individual tombs, which experts believe date back to the early Iron Age period between 9th and 6th centuries B.C.E.
The discovery was made during restoration work on a historic building in Trento, where prehistoric flooding likely preserved the grave site. The tombs contained “grave goods” such as decorative objects, metal weapons, and amber and glass items, indicating the people who built the necropolis were culturally connected to other Italic groups of the time.
The complexity of the necropolis intrigued researchers, with tall limestone pillars marking individual graves and a “main” tomb covered by a mound structure. Archaeologists also found earth and calcined bones inside lithic boxes, as well as fibers from fabric that was likely used to wrap ashes.
Experts believe the discovery sheds new light on the history of the region and may even provide insight into the rise of the Etruscan civilization. The burial rituals, they say, represent power, privilege, and status, offering a glimpse into the lives of the elite society who built the necropolis.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/necropolis-200-ancient-tombs-unearthed-italy