Volume 16 Winter 2014 Tomb 6423 At right, the Below is the A Digger’s View: lastra sealing chamber as The Tomb of the Hanging the chamber found at the The perspective of a field Aryballos, Tarquinia shown in situ. moment of archaeologist by Alessandro Mandolesi Above it is the opening, by Maria Rosa Lucidi another lastra on the back The University of Turin and the possibly reut- wall a little The discovery of the tomb of the Superintendency for the Archaeological ilzed spolia aryballos still “hanging aryballos" has aroused great Heritage of Southern Etruria have been interest among the public in both Italy taken from hangs on its investigating the Tumulus of the Queen and internationally. The integrity of the original nail. and the necropolis surrounding it, the the tumulus unviolated tomb is definitely one of the Doganaccia, since 2008. The excava- of the queen, (photographs reasons for the attention it has received. tions have brought forth many important which stands by Massimo The uniqueness is even more pro- and unexpected results, thanks to subse- nearby. Legni). nounced when one considers that since quent research, and the infor- the second half of the nine- mation relating to the differ- teenth century the English ent phases of its use has made traveler George Dennis it possible to clarify many blamed the inability to recov- obscure points about the great er the contexts from intact era of the monumental tumuli chamber tombs in Etruscan at Tarquinia. Tarquinia on repeated looting Archaeologists working since ancient times. The phe- on the sixth excavation cam- nomenon of illegal excava- paign at the necropolis of the tions is a plague known to all Doganaccia discovered, in major Etruscan archaeologi- September of 2013, an cal sites (and more generally exceptionally intact chamber to all those countries rich in tomb, a small tumulus of the history and archaeology late Archaic period, that is the across the Mediterranean), continued on page 6 c continued on page 7 The lost vehicles cemetery of Cerveteri rewrites the The Etruscans and Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), in col- archaeological history of the extraordi- laboration with the Superintendence of the Vatican nary artifacts found in 1836 and now on the Mediterranean meridionale per i Beni archeologici by Adriana Emiliozzi display in the Vatican Museums. Under The city of Cerveteri dell'Etruria and with the special partici- and Maurizio Sannibale consideration in particular were the Louvre-Lens pation of the Università di Sapienza reconstructions done in the past, which 5 December 2013 - 10 March 2014 Roma, this exhibition traces the history Recent research carried out on the brought to light a surprising result. by Francois Gaultier of Cerveteri, one the largest cities of Regolini-Galassi tomb group from the A magnificent tumulus Etruria best continued on page 16 These burial objects came to light The exhibition, Etruscans and the nearly two centuries ago, when the tomb Mediterranean - the city of Cerveteri is was discovered in April 1836. Ever the first archaeological exhibition at the since that time visitors to the Vatican Louvre-Lens. Anxious to give Etruria, Museums have been able to view composed of major city-states, like aspects of the life, the signs of power those of Greece, a lively yet precise and the sacred symbols of an Etruscan image, it abandons the general approach family of princely rank from ancient most often used to describe the major Caere, Cisra to the Etruscans. The mon- civilizations of the ancient umental mound, about 60 meters in Mediterranean, and seeks to recount the diameter, had remained intact, sealed evolution of an Etruscan city, from its and hidden from the eyes and the mem- origins to the Roman conquest. ory of posterity, full of gold, of bronze Conceived as an initiative of the figures, furniture and ceramics; it Louvre and the Instituto di Studi sul amazed the two continued on page 4 Mediterraneo Antico (ISMA), Centro LETTERS TO THE EDITORS Dear Editors: Dear Editors: My dissertation in 1982 at the The last issue of Etruscan News was Archeology Department of the just fantastic. It is so newsy, with so University Graz was on the topic many color pictures and great informa- “Ikonographie zum Musikleben und tion. I really like the picture of Jane and zum Instrumentarium der Etrusker.” Larissa as well. Thanks so much for And this was actually the final point of working so hard on this, too. I can’t my career as an archeologist, because I believe that it is already the 10th had to continue my way as a musician Anniversary. I have given my issue to (harpsichord, organ and composition). the woman who first told me about the Only after my retirement as a teacher at finds that led to you printing a “letter to Musikuniversität Graz my interests on the editor” from me. Since Larissa sent Etruscan culture began to newly awake. the issue to me, I am asking her for Together with my wife I made several another and sending in some dues. It travels to Tuscany and Latium in order makes me feel so good to be included. I to see what had developed in Etruscan wish that I could be in Florence in June research. It was thrilling for me to notice for the tribute to Nancy de Grummond. the huge amount of new results. Most importantly, here’s to your very Of course I eagerly read the books of Celebrating left to right: Fulvia Lo Schiavo, Larissa Bonfante, good health. Ambros Pfiffig (Religio etrusca, Marc Kaadi, Orlando Cerasuolo and Salvatore Napolitano. Con affetto, Etruskische Sprache etc.). One time I Barb Dear Editors: played harpsichord in a concert in Editor's Note: For the story of the Barbara Martini Johnson Lower Austria near Stift Geras (where Here is a picture of some of the guests Giganti, see Etruscan News 15, Winter he was staying as a monk then). at Professor Bonfante's house following 2013, page 40. Somebody told me that he was in the the lecture of Fulvia Lo Schiavo on the Giganti of Sardinia. Also present were audience. He seems to have been a great ETRUSCAN NEWS lover of music. It’s a pity I was too shy Francesco de Angelis and other mem- to speak to him. bers of the audience. Editorial Board, Issue #16, January 2014 Luciana Aigner-Foresti I remember Yours truly, very well as a friendly middle-aged Salvatore Napolitano woman (ten years older than me! I was Dear Editors: Editor-in-Chief Jane Whitehead [email protected] about thirty then) always busily running One of my students, here at University Modern and Classical Languages to and fro between the Institutes of Alte of California, Berkeley, Eri Kaku decid- Valdosta State University Geschichte and Klassische Archäologie ed to make me an Etruscan egg out of Valdosta, GA 31698 in Graz when I was a student of Prof. terra-cotta, which I am holding here. Erna Diez there. I think she was an Inspired by my class on Etruscan Art President of the U.S. Larissa Bonfante [email protected] assistant professor in the Institute of and Archaeology, Kaku, an Art History Section of the Istituto Classics Department Ancient History and I’m not sure if she Major, applied some of the themes she di Studi Etruschi ed New York University noticed me at all. Lately I read with learned in Etruscan art to her studio art Italici, ex officio 100 Washington Square East great admiration her book Die Etrusker practice. The small egg is painted with Silver Building, Room 503 und das frühe Rom. I know that she is the figures from the back wall of the New York, NY 10003 “Präsidentin” of the Vienna Section of Tomb of the Lionesses from Tarquinia. Studi Etruschi. Kaku was influenced by my study of the Language Page Editor Rex Wallace [email protected] I am very happy that you put me on egg in Etruscan art, which was the Classics Department your list. Etruscan News is among the theme of my lecture this year at the University of Massachusetts best sources of information about 2013-14 Cinelli Lecture in Etruscan Art Amherst, MA 01003 Etruscan archeology! From now on I and Archaeology (November, 2013 at want to subscribe to Etruscan News. the University of Milwaukee). Book Review Editor Francesco de Angelis [email protected] Please be so kind as to send it to my Ciao, Art History and Archaeology address. Lisa Pieraccini Columbia University With my best wishes, New York, NY 10027 Dr. Franz Zebinger Eichenweg 2 Layout-Design Editor Gary Enea [email protected] A-8062 Kumberg AUSTRIA Submissions, news, pictures, or other material appropriate to this newsletter may be sent to any of the editors listed above. The email address is preferred. For submissions guidelines, see Etruscan News 3 (2003). Distribution of Etruscan News is made possible through the generosity of NYU’s Center for Ancient Studies. Page 2 Dear Editors: Letter to our Readers I am sending you a picture of Jean MacIntosh Turfa, taken on the occasion Dear Readers: of the lecture she presented at the Department of Classics at the University This latest issue sees us at work on Thanksgiving weekend with our layout of Mississippi in October on “An editor Gary Enea and our guest editor Orlando Cerasuolo, whose book reviews Etruscan Book of Omens Revealed: the and announcement of the conference that he is organizing for Buffalo appear Brontoscopic Calendar," based on her here. The room is full of energy, alternating boisterous laughter and intense con- recent book Divining the Etruscan centration. World: the Brontoscopic Calendar and The excitement spills over into this issue, which is full of novelties and sur- Religious Practice (Cambridge).