The additional discovery of ancient human remains in the well suggests that these individuals' burials may have been part of a "ritual closing," of the well, Elisabetta Govi, an archaeologist at the University of Bologna who led the excavation, told Live Science.
Found in the depths of the well were a unique bronze plate and the fragmented remains of two bronze female statuettes, which help date the well to the end of the sixth or the beginning of the fifth century B.C. The artifacts still possess their original bronze luster because they were preserved in a low-oxygen environment underwater, Govi said.
The bronze statuettes and plate were likely a part of an opening ritual for the ancient well. (Image credit: University of Bologna)"Everything comes together to tell this story of rituals centered on the female component. Why? Because for this city, which sits in the Apennine mountain range, agricultural fertility was fundamental," Govi explained.
University of BolognaUniversity of Bologna
"Certainly, what was found in the well makes us think that this is a ritual well," Govi said, who wrote a book "Kainua (Marzabotto)" (University of Texas Press, 2023) about the Etruscan archaeological site. "That is, it had a special function, not just for the collection of water, but evidently for the collection of water in relation to ceremonies, rites, to religious life that took place nearby in the sanctuary of the goddess Uni."
The water in the well preserved the artifacts' bronze luster for thousands of years. (Image credit: University of Bologna)The bronze plate is the first of its kind ever discovered, Govi said. While the shape of the plate is consistent with common Etruscan ceramics, it's the only known example of the design in bronze that Etruscans made.
Related stories
Pristine Etruscan tomb discovered in Italy contains more than 100 untouched artifacts2,500-year-old painted tomb with 'unique scene of smithy' discovered at Etruscan necropolis in Italy2,500-year-old tomb of a 'warrior prince' with chariot and helmet discovered on Italy's Adriatic coast
The team also found the skeletons of a man and a woman within the well. While the statuettes and plate likely represent an opening ritual for the well, the bodies probably played a role in its ritual closing.
See if you know what these mysterious artifacts are with our archaeological fragments quiz!
Hence then, the article about archaeologists discover etruscan well that was ritually opened with offerings for a goddess and closed with human bodies was published today ( ) and is available on Live Science ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Archaeologists discover Etruscan well that was ritually opened with offerings for a goddess — and 'closed' with human bodies )
Also on site :
- “She Left This World Far Too Soon”: Wladimir Klitschko Issues Statement On Ex Hayden Panettiere’s Death & Promises To Keep Her Memory Alive For Their Daughter Kaya
- The global ‘freedom of the seas’ is dying in the Strait of Hormuz—and everyone, everywhere, could pay the tolls
- DeWine, Tressel Tout Ohio’s Economic Success