The Etruscan Necropolis of San Potente

A view of the necropolis by S.J. Ainsley, 1842

Tuscania is one of the oldest towns of Italy, cradle of the Etruscan civilization. Its history starts from the Villanovian Period (900 - 700 b.C.), running through all the next periods (Etruscan, 700 - 300 b.C.) till the Romans (300b.C. - 800 a.C.) and the Middle Age (800 - 1400 a.C.).

Described by George Dennis at the beginning of the XIX century, the necropolis in our valley is the biggest in Tuscania:  about 200 etruscan tumbs.
 

The origin of the Etruscan installation is by the side of the river Marta.
Hidden beneath the hills of the domain there are ruins of every era, and even though nobody ever made some excavations, we actually know that for etruscan people these hills were important. So important to dig in it, on a surface of more than 30 acres, one of the biggest necropolis of Tuscania, with tombs dating from the VII century b.C. on, a particular waterduct from the V century b.C., a great number of roads and paths, and, probably, a temple.
 

We actually know, even, that all what the etruscans dug for their burying purpose, it all has been important even for all the peoples and populations coming later. In fact, some studies let us know for sure that the road that was the principal for Etruscans, it was restored and enlarged by Romans, which paved it and called it Via Clodia; later again, the texture of all the caves, the roads and paths, the waterduct and all the rest, made out a perfect site to live on, and since we have left from that period a little romanesque church (the chiesa di San Potente), we can imagine that for a while these hills have been hosting a part of the town of Tuscania. In the end, we personally met some people that used to live in some of our caves during the world war II, and a man who lived in the church since some thirdy years ago.

Undoubtely, nowadays it's a place with something magic, where you can walk for hours surrounded by the feeling of almost 27 centuries of continuos history.
So far, just one official excavation and two publications were made, but we are doing our best for others will follow.