Untouched 2,500-year-old sarcophagus found in Italy and opened. See what was inside
For over 2,000 years, a heavy stone sarcophagus sat buried near a volcanic lake in Italy. Its contents remained untouched and unknown — until now.
Archaeologists were excavating Bisenzio, an Etruscan settlement on the shore of Lake Bolsena, when they uncovered several ancient tombs, Italy’s National Research Council and Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences said in an Oct. 3 news release.
The tombs were dated to between 700 B.C. and 500 B.C., around the time the ancient Roman empire was founded, and had not been affected by looting.
But one of the 2,500-year-old burials stood out to archaeologists: an untouched stone sarcophagus.
A YouTube video shared by officials shows the simple rectangular coffin being excavated and opened. The lid of the sarcophagus was so heavy archaeologists needed an excavator to remove it.
Inside the ancient sarcophagus was a complete, well-preserved skeleton with a small pot next to it, archaeologists said and photos show.
Officials described the find as rare and unique. Researchers hope to study the ancient remains and learn more about the deceased individual.
Excavations at Bisenzio have been ongoing for over a decade. The ancient city flourished for about 1,500 years during the Bronze Age as an important trade and manufacturing center, but shifting trade networks and other political changes led to its demise.
Lake Bolsena is in central Italy and a roughly 70-mile drive north of Rome.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release and article from Italy’s National Research Council and Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences (ISPC CNR).
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 11:14 AM with the headline "Untouched 2,500-year-old sarcophagus found in Italy and opened. See what was inside."
