A 2,400-year-old Hellenistic tomb was discovered in Manduria, Apulia, Italy, during sewer construction work along Via Sciglia. The excavation was conducted under the supervision of the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio (ABAP) for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto, demonstrating the coordination between modern infrastructure projects and heritage preservation.
The tomb dates to the 4th century BC and reflects the burial practices of the Messapians, an ancient people of the Salento Peninsula. It consists of two chambers: an antechamber, or dromos, preserving traces of red plaster with a white band, and a main burial chamber where fragments of painted plaster and remains of bone ash were found.
Archaeologists also found a Roman Republican coin in the backfill, indicating that the site continued to be visited during the Roman period. This tomb adds to earlier discoveries in late 2024, when eleven rock-cut pit graves were uncovered along Via Sciglia, confirming this area of Manduria as a structured Hellenistic necropolis. The Messapians were influenced by Magna Graecia, combining local Italic traditions with broader Mediterranean cultural elements.
The excavation was carried out by Impact Soc. Coop. under the scientific supervision of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, in line with Italian legislation requiring archaeological oversight during public works. The Directorate of Aqueducts of Apulia (AQP) supported the project, and experts are conducting photogrammetric surveys to produce a three-dimensional digital model of the tomb.
Taranto, historically a nexus of Messapian civilization, continues to reveal its rich artistic and archaeological tapestry. This tomb adds a crucial chapter to the understanding of the Messapian people and their place within ancient Mediterranean history, enriching knowledge of their funerary customs and showcasing a culture that skillfully integrated indigenous traditions with external influences following the expansion of Magna Graecia.