Archaeologists discovered a Roman necropolis near Naples at the location of the ancient settlement of Liternum.
An inscription in the marble of a tomb indicated that it was the final resting place of a gladiator.
Experts hope to continue exploring the site to learn more about its history.
At a site not far from an ancient forum and amphitheater once used to host Roman gladiators, archaeologists discovered an extensive necropolis that contained a tomb full of gladiator history.
Located just outside of modern-day Naples, archaeologists have started excavating the 1,600-square-foot necropolis. While excavating the site—which was part of the ancient town of Liternum—archaeologists discovered one burial place linked to a gladiator thanks to a funerary inscription etched into the marble, according to a translated statement from the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Naples Metropolitan Area.
The marble inscription, which was among a few that were discovered onsite, mentioned the gladiator and invoked the memory of the role that the famed fighters played in Roman society, which may suggest that the necropolis (and the ancient settlement as a whole) contained the remains of a number of gladiators. While this particular fighter’s final resting place was a major highlight of the discovery, there’s plenty more history that the excavation is still working to uncover.
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Simona Formola, the archaeologist who led the excavation, said that the work is only beginning on the expansive site, and is already potentially rewriting the history of the area. The excavation crews discovered two funerary enclosures where much of the original designs remained well-preserved even after centuries. Some sections featured white plaster decorations, others had red detailing, and there was a quadrangular mausoleum with gray tuff blocks stretching up to 10 feet long. That section featured plastered niches inside the tombs that housed cinerary urns, suggesting prolonged use of the site.
In all, crews have found roughly 20 tombs so far, which were likely in use from the first century B.C. until the third century A.D. (the middle imperial age). The discovery of coins, oil lamps, and small vases helped the archaeologists to accurately date the site. The team has identified a mix of burial styles—some sections of the tombs were covered with roof tiles, and others hosted remains that were placed within carefully crafted boxes.
The site features a deep well, which experts believe was used for ceremonies or rituals as part of the funerary traditions.
“The territory of Giugliano is experiencing a particularly fruitful moment form the point of view of archaeological research,” Marian Nuzzo, superintendent of archaeology for Naples, said in a statement, “first with the discovery of Tomb of Cerberus and now with this necropolis that, thanks also to the excellent state of conservation of the wall structures and burials, adds an important piece to our knowledge related to the settlement of the Liternum colony and constitutes a unique opportunity to depend the study of ancient civilization, and the historical and cultural context of the time.”
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Archaeologists will continue working in the area, hoping to uncover more history from the site. This includes the organization of the Roman colony that surrounded the necropolis, the history of which, Nuzzo said, is little-known. Since necropolis sites typically lined the sides of key roads during that time, the team hopes to propose new hypotheses with respect to the layout of the ancient Via Domitiana roadway (which connected southern Italy to Rome) and the surrounding areas.
“It will be possible to achieve important results in the field of knowledge of a territory of crucial relevance form a historical and archaeological point of view,” Nuzzo said.
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Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews have included sit-downs with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.