Accused Tomb Robber Leads Police to Ancient Tomb in Italy
Hoping for leniency in a coming trial, an accused tomb robber led Italian officials two weeks ago to a startling discovery on a sun-scorched hilltop here: the oldest Etruscan burial chamber ever found.
The tomb, dating from at least the seventh century B.C., was shown on Friday to reporters who were taken by bus to the site, less than 13 miles north of Rome. For now, archaeologists have named it the Tomb of the Roaring Lions, after the childlike representations of growling quadrupeds prowling along the bottom of the chamber's walls, with a flock of starkly outlined aquatic birds perched clumsily above.
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The tomb, dating from at least the seventh century B.C., was shown on Friday to reporters who were taken by bus to the site, less than 13 miles north of Rome. For now, archaeologists have named it the Tomb of the Roaring Lions, after the childlike representations of growling quadrupeds prowling along the bottom of the chamber's walls, with a flock of starkly outlined aquatic birds perched clumsily above.