Archaeologists from the San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project have uncovered a 2,600-year-old Etruscan tomb in central Italy that was completely sealed and undisturbed for centuries, containing more than 100 artifacts and four human skeletons.

The tomb’s contents include ceramic vases, bronze ornaments, iron weapons, and silver hair spools, indicating high social status and providing insight into Etruscan material culture, burial practices, and beliefs about the afterlife.

The tomb is estimated to be around 2,600 years old and remained undisturbed until excavation, containing four skeletons on carved stone beds and more than 100 well-preserved grave goods including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments, and delicate silver hair spools.

Local community involvement is notable, with residents expressing enthusiasm about contributing to regional cultural heritage and the ongoing research project.

Preliminary analysis suggests the four individuals may represent two male-female pairs, though researchers await more conclusive results as the study continues.

Researchers believe the four individuals may represent two male-female pairs, though this requires further analysis to confirm.

Initial analysis suggests two male-female pairs among the four individuals, though researchers emphasize that results are not yet conclusive.

Baylor students participated in the excavation, illustrating the educational and cultural heritage value of unlooted artifacts for local communities and researchers alike.

The SGARP project is a Baylor-led collaboration with Virgil Academy in Rome and the town of Barbarano Romano, aiming to study long-term human occupation and transitions from Etruscan to Roman, medieval, and later periods.

SGARP is a collaboration among several universities, led by Baylor University, with the Virgil Academy in Rome and support from Barbarano Romano, and has been studying the region since 2016 to understand Etruscan-to-Roman transitions.

The SGARP project, a collaboration led by Baylor University with Virgil Academy in Rome and the town of Barbarano Romano, aims to reconstruct long-term occupation changes on the San Giuliano Plateau and surrounding hills, including transitions after incorporation into the Roman Empire and eventual abandonment before 1300 A.D.

The discovery highlights ongoing excavation since 2016 that has revealed over 600 tombs in the necropolis, offering significant insights into Etruscan burial practices and daily life, as well as the local community’s sense of shared cultural heritage.