A group of archaeologists found at the bottom of a sacred pool of an ancient Etruscan-Roman sanctuary 24 bronze statues of 2,300 years old, in perfect condition, and thousands of coins in the area of Tuscany, central Italy, and was considered one of the most significant discoveries of its kind in the history of the ancient Mediterranean, it was reported on Tuesday.
“A discovery that will rewrite history, and on which more than 60 specialists from around the world are already working”Archaeologist Jacopo Tabolli, the young professor at the University for Foreigners of Siena, who has been leading the project since 2019 with the grant from the Ministry of Culture and the financial support of the small commune, announced for the ANSA agency.
Inside the great Roman pool where the statues were found is the image of a young ephebe who appears to be sleeping; Hygieia, the goddess of health, with a snake coiled around her arm, and partially submerged in water, Apollo.
Tabolli stressed that the treasure found in San Casciano dei Bagni, in the province of Siena, is “absolutely unique”, and is accompanied by an incredible number of inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin, plus thousands of coins, as well as an equal series of Interesting vegetable offerings.
The Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, when visiting the restoration laboratory that has just received the statues, stressed that it is “an exceptional find that confirms to us once again that Italy is a country made of immense and unique treasures… it is a unique trait of Italian culture.”
“It is the most important discovery since the Riace Bronzes (a pair of Greek statues from the 5th century BC discovered in 1972), and certainly one of the most significant finds of bronzes in the history of the ancient Mediterranean”, commented together with the minister the Director of Museums, Massimo Osanna.
The sanctuary, with its boiling pools, stair terraces, fountains, altars, already existed in the 3rd century before Christine, and remained active until the 5th century
Osanna approved the purchase of a 15th century building that will house in the village of San Casciano the restored wonders of Bagno Grande, a museum to which an authentic archaeological park will be added in the future.
Luigi La Rocca, general director for Archaeology, shares the enthusiasm and highlighted “the importance of the method used in this excavation” which, as happened with the most recent discoveries in Pompeii, also included the participation of “specialists from many disciplines, from architects to geologists, from archaeobotanists to experts in epigraphy and numismatics”.
Probably made by local artisans, the 24 statues found, explained Tabolli, accompanied by the director of the excavation, Emanuele Mariotti and Ada Salvi, from the Superintendency, can be dated between the 1st and 2nd century BC.
The sanctuary, with its boiling pools, stair terraces, fountains, altars, already existed in the 3rd century before Christine, and remained active until the 5th century when, in Christian times, it was closed but not destroyed .
The archaeologists found themselves in front of a treasure still intact, “the largest deposit in ancient Italy and the only one for which we have the possibility of fully reconstructing the context”Tabolli explained.
The excavation will reopen in the boreal spring: “It will be a team effort, as it has been until now,” concluded Tabolli.
