Posted on 05/08/2008 1:51:25 PM PDT by blam
Italian builders uncover 2,000-year-old tombs
ARCHAEOLOGISTS were yesterday celebrating the discovery of 27 2,000-year-old tombs in Italy's "Valley of the Dead".
The tombs, some dating back to the 7th century BC, were found by chance while builders carried out work.
The whole area was sealed off yesterday and put under police guard to prevent anyone from trying to steal artefacts inside the burial chambers.
Grave robbers, or tombaroli as they are known in Italy, make a lucrative living from selling such objects to museums or private collectors.
Archaeologists say there is also a "good chance" that there may well be other tombs waiting to be discovered. The tombs were discovered at Tarquinia, 50 miles north of Rome in an area named a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Covering more than 400 acres, the area was the burial ground for the Etruscan tribes who predated the Romans. Maria Tecla Castaldi, an archaeologist, said: "This is the most exciting discovery here in decades. There are frescoes of two figures on the walls, but we need to carry out a proper excavation and search.
"The problem we have is that grave robbers have plundered this area in the last few years, so sometimes we find tombs but they have been there before us. I hope that we have found tombs that are still intact."
GGG Ping.
Very good. I love this stuff.
Let’s hope they buried somebody with favorite selections from the Vortumna Book Club.
Gotta keep this as reference — thanks for posting!
Future Italian builders will uncover Hoffa.
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Grave robbers, or tombaroli as they are known in ItalyWow, even the name for the crooks is cool.
The tombs were discovered at Tarquinia, 50 miles north of Rome in an area named a World Heritage Site by Unesco.Tarquinia? This is going to be big.
Auctioning Antiquities Collected by an Ancestor
By WENDY MOONAN
October 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/arts/design/14anti.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/arts/design/14anti.html?fta=y&pagewanted=all
That’s the bust comment yet. Thanks for the heads up. The Emperor’s scalp sure retained a lot of hair.
Ooooohhh...that's the name for the crooks...I thought it was a new type of pasta by Chef Boyardee! :)
Lots of good digs all over Italy these days. I’m particularly amazed at what they’re finding in Rome (forum, Palatine Hill, etc) right now.
Hey, careful, talkin’ about chefs... why do you think the FReeper’s name is “Blam”!? ;’)
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