Extraordinary discovery near Benevento: vast pre-Roman necropolis found

An “extraordinary discovery,” calls it the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento, which announced the discovery of a pre-Roman necropolis in Amorosi (Benevento), in the heart of the Telesina Valley. This discovery was made possible by excavations conducted under preventive archaeology regulations during the construction of a power plant by Terna Rete Italia Spa.

The excavations revealed a large archaeological area in the vicinity of the Volturno River, which showed evidence of human habitation from prehistoric to late ancient times. However, what has especially attracted the attention of archaeologists is the vast burial area dating from the final stages of the Iron Age and the Orientalizing period (third quarter of the 8th century to the second half/end of the 7th century BCE).

A total of 88 burials were excavated over an area of about 13,000 square meters, belonging to the so-called “Pit Tomb Culture” characteristic of inland Campania before the rise of the Samnites. The male tombs featured grave goods composed of weapons, while the female tombs included rich parures of ornamental bronze objects such as fibulae, bracelets, pendants, and items made of amber and worked bone. In addition, grave goods also included numerous amphorae of different shapes, often arranged at the feet of the deceased in a reserved space.

Some of the burials are distinguished by the presence of objects of extraordinary prestige, such as a large finely decorated bronze belt or bronze-rolled vessels, recalling the burials of princely rank found in Campania during the Orientalizing period. However, the most monumental elements are represented by two large mound burials, characterized by imposing circles with a diameter of about 15 meters, which surely belonged to members of the elite of the society of the time.

During the excavations, the Superintendence of Caserta initiated an extensive research project in collaboration with Terna Spa and the Municipality of Amorosi, involving various professionals for micro-digging activities of the soils inside the recovered containers, preliminary restoration of the materials, anthropological analysis of the bone remains and archaeobotanical analysis of the soils. These activities were carried out in a warehouse-laboratory specially set up in the premises made available by the municipality of Amorosi.

The Superintendency of Caserta, with the support of Terna spa and the collaboration of the municipalities of Amorosi and Puglianello, and thanking not only those involved but also the company SAP Archeologica srl and the staff of the Archaeological Office of San Salvatore Telesino, is now organizing communication events and preliminary exposure of the excavation results, as well as directing a broad project aimed at the study, restoration and enhancement of the rich archaeological heritage discovered.

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Extraordinary discovery near Benevento: vast pre-Roman necropolis found

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