Necropoli etrusca di Poggio Buco

The Etruscan necropolis of Poggio Buco lies on the Le Sparne plateau near Pitigliano. Its tombs and settlement remains relate to an important centre in the Fiora valley, while finds from the site form a significant part of Pitigliano's civic archaeological collection.

Why it matters

Poggio Buco is among the principal archaeological sites associated with the Fiora valley's Etruscan past. Its discoveries help illuminate the communities that preceded the medieval town of Pitigliano. The ancient name of the settlement remains uncertain; its identification with Statonia is debated.

What to notice

The necropolis includes different forms of burial, among them pit graves, chamber tombs and jar burials. Traces of the settlement and sections of its wall circuit are also associated with the plateau. Many of the most informative objects are preserved in Pitigliano's civic archaeological museum, including bucchero vessels and decorated ceramics excavated at Poggio Buco.

Context and history

The site was explored by Adele Vaselli on her land between 1955 and 1960. The material from those excavations forms part of the Vaselli collection in the museum, with pottery dating especially to the seventh and sixth centuries BC. Poggio Buco documents the long settlement history of the Fiora valley, from protohistoric communities to the Etruscan period.