2,500-Year-Old Etruscan Bronze Relics Excavated from Ancient Well in Italy
Archaeologists near Marzabotto in northern Italy excavated well-preserved bronze artifacts from an ancient well associated with the Etruscan city of Kainua, according to a report cited from Heritage Daily. The University of Bologna and the Ravenna Archaeological Group uncovered two bronze statues of female figures and an “extremely rare” bronze bowl, along with human remains from two adults. Researchers believe the bronzes were deliberately deposited as votive offerings, indicating the well functioned as a sacred site linked to water-related ceremonies and possibly the city’s foundation. The human remains are thought to date to a different period than the bronzes, suggesting the well retained ritual significance over an extended time.
From This Briefing
This story was covered in Heists and Homecomings: Art’s High-Stakes Week