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An exceptional discovery has been made during the laying of a water pipeline in northern Naples, in Giugliano, an area that has never before yielded this type of find.
The archaeological excavations, requested by the Superintendency for the Metropolitan Area of Naples and led by scientific director Dr Simona Formola, first sparked interest after initial investigations revealed the presence of an early imperial age necropolis of modest but intact tombs. However, after several weeks of excavation, archaeologists uncovered what turned out to be an impressive underground funerary chamber, measuring 3m by 4m, at a depth of more than 3m, completely covered in frescoes and in an exceptional state of conservation, undisturbed since it was sealed more than 2,000 years ago. Inside the chamber, two sarcophagi were found, with the skeletal remains of the deceased and the funerary objects that accompanied them still inside. The chamber also contained a large table, on which another skeleton was found, evidently placed at a later time, as well as an altar with all of the vases used in the funeral rites still in their original positions.
The chamber’s side walls feature a beautiful festoon decoration, which recalls the real garlands used at the time of the funeral. On the front wall appear two ichthyocentaurs (mythical creatures that are part human, part horse, and part fish), holding a shield between them, probably a reference to Rome’s naval victories and the establishment of the nearby maritime colony at Liternum. On the opposite side, the frescoes’ theme evokes the sphere of the underworld, with the three-headed dog Cerberus, guardian of the underworld, who fights against Heracles in the last of his 12 labours, in the presence of Mercury, the messenger of the gods.
The importance of this discovery is due not only to the exceptional nature of the finds, which are unprecendented in the surrounding area and therefore absolutely unexpected, but also to the state of conservation of the tomb, which revealed the frescoes, grave goods, and human remains intact, and presented the possibility of sampling anthropological and botanical remains for laboratory analyses. In total, at least three skeletons and two cremation burials were found inside the chamber, as well as ointment jars, amphorae, vases, jugs, and perfectly preserved bronze and glass objects. Even more could be discovered by further excavations, which were suspended shortly after the discovery in order to carry out sampling.
The dating of the tomb is within a fairly limited chronological range, which goes from the creation of the colony of Liternum in 194 BC up to AD 27, a date recorded in an inscription inside one of the tombs from the last phase of deposition at the Cerberus necropolis. We can therefore imagine that the owner of this lavish tomb was probably a rich Roman, perhaps a veteran who had taken part in the victories alongside the famous general Scipio Africanus and who had received part of the lands intended for the new colony as a gift.
Investigations will resume shortly inside the tomb and more extensive excavations have already been planned in the area, which will almost certainly uncover simpler burials. The archaeologists hope they might reveal other monumental chambers nearby, too.
Text: Simona Formola / Images: Sabap Archive
