A stunning ancient tomb discovery in southern Italy is providing archaeologists with new insight into the Messapian civilization, though officials confirmed the site shows evidence of looting that occurred centuries ago.
The Brindisi and Lecce Superintendency for Archaeology announced on Sept. 8 that sewer workers in Manduria, a commune in Puglia, uncovered the 2,300-year-old tomb dating back to the 4th century B.C. The burial belonged to the Messapians, a pre-Roman culture known for resisting outside influence until Rome’s rise.
Officials said the tomb was part of a small funerary complex and featured red painted plaster with a white horizontal band along the walls. Inside, archaeologists recovered ceramic vases, oil lamps, unguent jars, and plates, all traced to the 4th century B.C. The chamber entrance had a two-panel plastered red door, with fragments recovered during the excavation.
Four recesses at the chamber’s base suggest they once supported a funerary bed. Yet investigators noted “signs of ancient disturbance,” likely caused by looters who tunneled into nearby burials. A second tomb was also breached, stripped of grave goods but containing a Roman Republican denarius, indicating the site’s continued use during the Roman period.
Despite the looting, the excavation offers valuable clues about Messapian funerary practices. Officials said the dig “has made it possible to add new elements to our understanding of the funerary practices of the Messapian center of Manduria during the Hellenistic age.”
The site will be digitally preserved with a 3D model for public accessibility. As officials stressed, even looted, the discovery reveals the cultural richness and resilience of ancient Italy.
