The discovery reveals the most significant archaeological dig since the unearthing of the renowned Riace bronze warriors 50 years ago.
According to a report by Fortune and Associated Press, “Italian authorities on Tuesday announced the extraordinary discovery of 2,000-year-old bronze statues in an ancient Tuscan thermal spring and said the find will “rewrite history” about the transition from the Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire.”
The article further states that “the discovery, in the sacred baths of the San Casciano dei Bagni archaeological dig near Siena, ‘is one of the most significant ever in the Mediterranean and certainly the most important since the 1972 underwater discovery of the famed Riace bronze warriors,’ said Massimo Osanna, the CultureCultureshared traditions, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and social practices that define the identity and way of life of a community, society, or nation.Go to Culture Glossary Ministry’s director of museums.”
The ministry adds that “thanks to the mud that protected them, the two-dozen figurines and other bronze objects were found in a perfect state of conservation, bearing delicate facial features, inscriptions and rippled tunics. Alongside the figures were 5,000 coins in gold, silver and bronze.” Furthermore, the ministry has announced the “construction of a new museum in the area to house the antiquities.”
Per another article by Smithsonian Magazine, “The find is ‘the largest deposit of bronze statues of the Etruscan and Roman age ever discovered in Italy and one of the most significant in the whole Mediterranean,’ says excavation leader Jacopo Tabolli, a historian at the University for Foreigners in Siena.”
In the same report, it is stated that “the statues date back to between the second century B.C.E. and the first century C.E., which was a time of great upheaval in Tuscan history: The transition from Etruscan to Roman rule was taking place, through hard-fought battles over towns such as this one. After the Romans eventually prevailed, they led a concentrated campaign to redefine and minimize Etruscan cultureCultureshared traditions, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and social practices that define the identity and way of life of a community, society, or nation.Go to Culture Glossary, burying or destroying historical items.”
The article further states that according to Tabolli: “This discovery rewrites the history of ancient art. Here, Etruscans and Romans prayed together.”
According to the report, “Researchers can’t know for certain why the statues were drowned in the thermal waters, but they do know that the waters helped keep them in such good condition.” The article also states that “the statues together with other discoveries were taken to a restoration lab near Grosseto and they will be on display in a new museum to be opened in San Casciano.”
Photos via Smithsonian Magazine website from the Italian Ministry of CultureCultureshared traditions, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and social practices that define the identity and way of life of a community, society, or nation.Go to Culture Glossary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Archaeologists uncovered about two dozen bronze statues and other bronze objects in an ancient thermal spring near Siena, Tuscany, alongside roughly 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze coins, preserved in near-perfect condition by protective mud.
The statues date to between the second century B.C.E. and the first century C.E., a period when Tuscany was transitioning from Etruscan to Roman rule, making them roughly 2,000 years old.
Italy’s Culture Ministry says the find may rewrite history on the Etruscan-to-Roman transition. Officials call it the most important discovery since the 1972 Riace bronze warriors, and excavation leader Jacopo Tabolli says Etruscans and Romans prayed together.
The statues were submerged in thermal spring waters, and the mud protected them, leaving delicate facial features, inscriptions, and rippled tunics intact. Researchers cannot say for certain why the figures were placed in the waters.
The statues and related finds were taken to a restoration laboratory near Grosseto. Italy’s Culture Ministry has announced a new museum in San Casciano dei Bagni, where the antiquities are expected to be displayed.
