Italian authorities have revealed the seizure of an illicit excavation at an Etruscan burial site in the central Umbria region. They are currently investigating two individuals suspected of stealing urns, sarcophagi, and other artifacts valued at €8 million, with plans to sell them on the black market.
The illegal dig was situated near another Etruscan burial site discovered by a farmer in 2015 while tilling his land. Authorities utilized drone aerial photography and phone taps to pinpoint the second site, which was on land owned by a local businessman with access to earthmoving equipment.
At the newly discovered site, authorities uncovered two sarcophagi believed to belong to two Etruscan princesses, one of which still contained a skeleton. Additionally, they found a burial trousseau featuring urns depicting battle and hunting scenes, perfume jars, and a comb crafted from bone.
The Etruscan civilization thrived from approximately 900 B.C. to 27 B.C. in central Italy, primarily between the Tiber and Arno rivers, encompassing parts of present-day Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio.
Source link: https://www.euronews.com
