In recent months, within the modern urban landscape of Pontecagnano Faiano, in the province of Salerno, preliminary archaeological surveys conducted prior to the construction of a private building complex have brought to light another section of the western necropolis of the ancient site. The news was reported by the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Salerno and Avellino.
In the southern sector of the lot, a group of four burials dating to the first half of the 6th century B.C. was identified; these were partially destroyed by a modern sewer system. Among these, Tomb 10188 stands out, consisting of a figurative krater produced in Corinth, used as a container for the cremated bones of the deceased. The vessel was protected by a parallelepiped structure made of travertine, sealed with a cover slab.
This type of tomb, known as the “cube-shaped” tomb, is common in northern Campania but is particularly rare in Pontecagnano. Prior to this discovery, only two other tombs of this type were known: T. 1840 and T. 9954, both on display at the National Archaeological Museum “Gli Etruschi di frontiera” (MAP).
According to the Superintendency, several elements suggest that the burial belonged to a high-ranking figure in the community of the ancient Etruscan settlement: the structure of the tomb, the use of the krater as a cinerary vessel, the function of the krater—a central element of the symposium intended for pouring wine—the ritual of cremation, and the figurative decoration of the artifact, which was imported directly from Greece. The artifacts are currently being housed at the MAP for initial study and restoration and will soon be on public display.
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| Pontecagnano (Salerno): A Rare “Cube-Shaped” Tomb Containing a Corinthian Krater Has Been Discovered |
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