Archaeologists uncover monumental Etruscan tomb filled with rare treasures at ancient Vulci

Archaeologists working at the ancient Etruscan city of Vulci in Italy have uncovered a monumental tomb dating to the late seventh century BCE.

The discovery came during the 2026 excavation campaign at the Polledrara necropolis, within the area of ancient Vulci. The team also identified the circular enclosure of Tumulo Gsell, first found by the École française de Rome in 1889. The enclosure had never been fully excavated.

The new tomb, called the Tomb of the Stone Chamber, offers fresh evidence about the wealthy elite of Vulci during a period of strong growth and close links with the Mediterranean. The tomb lies inside the funerary complex and contains three burial chambers.

Researchers found the tomb’s main chamber remarkably well preserved, despite repeated illegal digging during the 20th century. Walls built from large blocks of nenfro stone formed the chamber. The complex was cut into deposits linked to the ancient course of the Fiora River.

Collapsed roofs and chamber structures protected many objects from later disturbance. As a result, archaeologists recovered several groups of objects and burial deposits in their original positions.

The finds include Greek pottery from Attica and Corinth, along with finely decorated local vessels and bucchero pottery. The team also recovered weapons, parts of a chariot, iron spits, gold and bronze sheets, carved bone and ivory, and many items linked to clothing and personal dress.

A rare find is a female shoe. Other objects from the side chambers include a bronze tripod placed with an alabaster plaster lamp. The lamp likely came from the area of Naucratis or Rhodes.

The tomb also held an unusual banquet set made in the local Polledrara Ware style. The group includes phialai, olpai, hydriai and dinoi with colorful painted designs. Some vessels were still in their original positions.

Other banquet objects include bucchero vessels, a grater used in wine preparation, and a large polychrome bowl in the Ionian Wild Goat Style. Together, the objects point to the range of goods and customs linked with elite life at Vulci.

The 2026 work is part of Ritorno a Vulci, an international project launched in 2023. The project brings together the École française de Rome, Sapienza University of Rome and the British Museum, along with Italian heritage institutions.

The research combines excavation with archival work and study of objects held in Italian and international collections. A related online project, Vulci nel Mondo, records finds from Vulci now held in museums around the world.

The newly studied tomb also offers a way to reassess other major funerary sites from Vulci. One important comparison is the famous Tomb of Isis at the British Museum, found by the Bonaparte couple in 1839 near Tumulo Gsell.

The two tombs share close dates and cultural features. Researchers will use these links to study burial rites, artistic production and trade networks among Vulci’s elite at the end of the seventh century BCE.

Work also continued on objects recovered through seizures and other finds held at the Archaeological Museum of Vulci. Their study adds more evidence for the material culture of the Polledrara necropolis.

After the 2026 work ended, archaeologists reburied the tomb and tumulus enclosure to protect the remains. A new excavation campaign is planned for 2027, followed by further study, publication and public presentation of the results.