Dozens of ancient skeletons wearing shoes and jewelry were discovered at a construction site

Ancient skeletons buried in expensive shoes and gold jewelry were discovered during construction work near Rome. Archaeologists say the discovery of 67 human remains wearing their finery in 57 tombs is “unparalleled”.

A two-year excavation to install a solar power plant near Rome has uncovered an ancient Roman necropolis containing 67 skeletons buried in 57 ornate tombs.

How reports CNN, Archaeologists were puzzled by the find, which is believed to date from the second and fourth centuries, not least because the skeletons were found wearing gold jewelry and expensive leather shoes inside tombs designed to resemble their homes.

The discovery, on a 52-acre plot of land near the ancient city of Tarquinia, north of Rome, came as a surprise to authorities, even though the area is famous for such finds.

The remains were buried just below the surface at a depth of about 20 inches, CNN reported.

Silver rings with amber and engraved initials, gemstones, terracotta pottery, coins, sparkling glasses, amulets and even items of clothing were found alongside gold necklaces and earrings.

“We found several skeletons that were still wearing expensive stockings and shoes,” Emanuele Giannini, the lead archaeologist at the site, tells CNN. “All this wealth and the fact that the bones show no signs of stress or physical labor lead us to believe that these were not local peasants, but representatives of the upper classes of Roman families who came from the cities.”

Giannini says “anticipatory archaeology” techniques such as field surveys and test trenches have been used to identify potentially ancient structures underground.

“We really had little idea that there might be some kind of treasure lying there, since historical sources mentioned the location of a postal station for travelers near this place,” explains Giannini. “Many Romans would have stopped here overnight to eat and rest, but the scale of the discovery is unparalleled.”

The variety of funerary objects laid out next to the remains, as well as the luxurious design and lining inside the tombs, led archaeologists to believe that the inhabitants wanted to recreate celestial spaces similar to their earthly homes. The interior of many tombs was originally decorated with elaborate cloth overlays or was surrounded and covered with tiles or terracotta work, similar to small houses.

Giannini says another striking aspect was that most of the tombs discovered were shared by at least two occupants, who were likely related by family ties. Several skeletons were found lying closely together.

“Building tombs for entire families is a typical Roman feature,” he said, “but they stand out for their interior decoration, which indicates wealth and status.”

Shallow graves were found just 20 inches below the surface – almost sticking out of the grass – but no one ever noticed anything unusual.

The unique preservation of the site is due to the fact that “huge limestone blocks protruding from the ground made plowing, seeding and modern agriculture in the area impossible.” explains Giannini. Thanks to this, the site remained untouched for centuries.

Finds from the excavations, which began in 2022, are being preserved as they are discovered, and many will be exhibited at the Castel Santa Severa in the coastal town of Santa Marinella. However, the skeletons are being analyzed to determine their provenance and will not be put on public display until a forensic examination is carried out.

Whatever their origins, authorities are confident that even more hidden wonders will be revealed when excavations for the solar park move to another nearby site.

“We are excavating a vast rural area to redevelop the land and balance the need to avoid destruction of such unique wonders with the goal of increasing clean energy production,” Margherita Eichberg, superintendent of artistic heritage for the provinces of Viterbo and southern Etruria at the Italian Ministry of Culture, told CNN. The area where the necropolis was discovered will not be part of the solar park and will be cordoned off for security reasons, with no public access. This is the charm and beauty of Italy: every time an excavation is carried out, incredible wonders of the past emerge from the ground that need to be preserved.”