Necropoli etrusca di Strozzacapponi

Why it matters

The Etruscan necropolis at Strozzacapponi preserves chamber tombs cut into the travertine ridge between Corciano and Perugia. Dating from the third to first centuries BC, the burial ground provides evidence of a community of craftspeople associated with the area's travertine quarries.

What to notice

The tombs are hypogea reached by sloping corridors and closed by large slabs. Many chambers contain ledges for urns and pottery vessels holding cremated remains. Some urn lids preserve names of the deceased; a smaller group is decorated with sculpted relief. The tombs are similar in size and arrangement, reflecting shared funerary practices. Urns recovered from the site are also held in the municipal Antiquarium of Corciano.

Context and history

The necropolis served a Hellenistic-age community between the third and first centuries BC. Travertine deposits in the Santa Sabina area supported quarry crafts. A nearby settlement of farmers and stoneworkers has been proposed, though no settlement has been found. Modern archaeological recovery began in 1963 during road works and continued in a 1996 campaign. The remains preserve evidence of the burial practices and organisation of the ancient community.