ARCHEOLOGICAL AREAS


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ARCHEOLOGICAL AREAS

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The first research done on the ancient territory of Caere dates back to the 1830's as a renewed interest in Etruscan culture emerged. In 1834 about fifty tombs of the necropolis of Banditaccia were discovered among which two tombs of great monumental importance are to be remembered; the tomb of Shields and Seats and the Tomb of Painted Animals.

In the same period, in the years shortly after, a series of excavations began on with the most important being carried out by the Dean of Cerveteri, A. Regiolini and General V. Galassi. This research led to the re-opening of numerous burial grounds belonging to the Villanovan age, from the famous tomb Regiolini-Galsssi ( taking its name from the excavators) a tumulus dating back to the orientalizing period which has provided some of the greatest finds ever. These discoveries are now deposited at the Etruscan Gregorian Museum. During the second half of the of the same century, activity increased and this allowed the opening of other tombs which have become even more famous today; the Tomb of the Reliefs, the Tomb of the Alcave and the Tomb of the Inscriptions. However, it has only been since last century that some of the sepulchral areas were open to the public. One of the most illustrious excavators was Raniero Mengarelli who found major archaeological evidence at the monumental excavation of the Banditaccia.

There was also other research carried out in the area of the Sorbo, Mount Abatone and at the Ripa of Saint Angelo. At present the cemetery area covers an area of over approximately 250 hectares of which the high plain, where the ancient city lies, covers over 160 hectares. The tombs discovered refer to a period of time ranging from the end of the Bronze Age to the Roman Conquest. Generally we can distinguish the area of the city centre located in the elevated position between the rivers of Manganello and Mola, from the different necropolises which surround it; Banditaccia to the north west, Mount Abatone to the east, the sepulchre of Sorbo and that of Saint Angelo to the south and the grave yards of Montetosto and Zambra to the west. Naturally, among the discoveries other sporadic ruins have come to light such as those found along the road which leads to Alsium (Palo Laziale today).

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