In Campania, new discoveries in the necropolis of ancient Liternum

In the municipality of Giugliano in Campania, an archaeological excavation is currently underway in the area of ancient Liternum, not far from the Roman colony’s Forum and Amphitheater, conducted under the scientific supervision of Simona Formola, the archaeological officer in charge of the area. The investigation involves a large necropolis area covering more than 150 square meters, located in an area already protected by direct ministerial constraint.

Two burial enclosures were brought to light, still partially covered with fragments of white plaster, with traces of later red decoration. The two spaces are separated by an enclosed area and feature a deep masonry well, probably related to cultic practices. Inside one of the enclosures a quadrangular mausoleum is preserved, made of opus reticulatum with gray tuff blocks and measuring three meters per side. The structure, now leveled, has plastered niches along the sides, used to house cinerary urns. Around the perimeter walls of the necropolis, about twenty burials of various types have been identified, including capuchin, enchystrismòs, and tile chest tombs, some of which have a well-constructed masonry roof.

The archaeological evidence that has emerged indicates that the area was used continuously from the late 1st century B.C. to the 2nd-3rd century A.D., as evidenced by the different construction phases of the structures found and the numerous grave goods found within the burials, including coins, oil lamps and small vessels, which offer important information on the daily aspects, ritual practices and social dynamics of the communities that inhabited the site. Among the most interesting finds are several marble funerary inscriptions, some of which are still intact, including one bearing the epitaph of a gladiator, a valuable document that contributes to the understanding of the role and memory of these fighters in ancient Roman society.

Following these discoveries, Superintendent Mariano Nuzzo declared “that the Giugliano area is experiencing a particularly fruitful moment from the point of view of archaeological research, first with the discovery of the Tomb of Cerberus and now with this necropolis which, thanks also to theexcellent state of preservation of the wall structures and burials, adds an important piece to our knowledge regarding the settlement history of the colony of Liternum and constitutes a unique opportunity to deepen the study of ancient civilization, and of the historical and cultural context of the time.”

“The importance of these investigations is closely linked to a better understanding of the physiognomy of the ancient landscape and the urban perimeter of the colony, of which very little is still known, leading us to propose new hypotheses also with respect to the route of the ancient Via Domitiana, on either side of which these burials were to be located,” he added. “Thanks to the continuation of the investigation, combined with the in-depth study of archival material, it will be possible to achieve important results in the field of knowledge of an area of crucial importance from a historical and archaeological point of view.”

In Campania, new discoveries in the necropolis of ancient Liternum

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