necropolis

Cage cup

What is it? This cage cup, or vas diatretum, dates to the 4th century AD. The intricate, colourless glass bowl is 12.6cm tall and 15cm in diameter and has a flared rim. A Latin inscription in the central part of…

ABOVE Well preserved remains were discovered in this tomb, belonging to Marcus Venerius Secundio, in the Porta Sarno necropolis.

Tomb of a wealthy Pompeiian uncovered

The sealed funerary chamber ensured the preservation of the remains buried in the tomb, including some hair as well as a skeleton.

LEFT & BELOW New digital photographs of La Dama de Baza have revealed lost details of the sculpture’s original vibrant decoration.

Revealing the Lady of Baza’s true colours

The painted sculpture depicting a seated woman was found inside a burial chamber with other rich grave goods.

The Past

Mummified human remains discovered at Pompeii

Wax tablet archives revealed that the deceased was a public slave and a custodian of the Temple of Venus.

The Lost City of Norchia

Upper Palaeolithic flints, Eneolithic tombs, and remains of a Bronze Age semicircular hut, as well as a tomb with a Villanovan shield, show that the place evolved over time, before being bafflingly abandoned in the earlier Iron Age.

BELOW One of Saqqara’s newly discovered coffins was opened for X ray analysis.

More mummies unveiled at Saqqara

As well as the coffins, which date to the Late Period (525-332 BC) and Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BC), Egyptian archaeologists found shabtis, amulets, four gilded funerary masks, and 40 statues of Ptah Sokar, a prominent god of Saqqara.

ABOVE Among the different types of burials excavated at the necropolis were five sandstone sarcophagi.

Roman discoveries at ancient Augustodunum

Excavations directed by Carole Fossurier found a range of different burial practices. There were mausoleums, a wooden building, and a tile structure, which resembled burials of the early empire, as well as five sandstone sarcophagi and 15 lead coffins.

Etruscans: pushing boundaries

When the Etruscans expanded to the south and the vast plains of Campania, they found a land of cultural connections and confrontations, as luxurious grave goods found across the region reveal. An exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples sheds light on these ancient Italians at the frontier. Paolo Giulierini, director of the museum, is our guide.

Opposite Excavations on Corsica revealed a previously unsuspected Etruscan hypogeum dating to the 4th century BC. Here we see a view of the stairs and corridor leading to the burial chamber, which lies in the foreground. Various grave goods were arranged around the deceased, including two skyphoi (drinking cups), which were consolidated in situ before being lifted. below The excavation site, with the sea visible in the background. Archaeological investigation in advance of building work revealed a previously unknown Roman necropolis, which in turn led to the discovery of the hypogeum.

An unexpected tomb: Inside an Etruscan hypogeum on Corsica

Discovering a previously unsuspected Roman cemetery would normally rank as the archaeological highlight of a building project. Recent work on Corsica, though, revealed an even greater surprise.