In central Italy, a group of American and Italian archaeologists have discovered Etruscan pyramids underground for the first time in the history of science. The structures are carved into the volcanic tuff on which the city of Orvieto stands. The top of one of them was used as a wine cellar where ancient staircases were seen.
Coming to the excavation, David George of St. Anselm's College (USA) and Claudio Bizzarri of the local archaeological park noticed that the walls sloped, suggesting a pyramidal shape.
After passing through the mid-20th century layer, archaeologists reached the medieval floor. Immediately below it, they came across a layer filled with Attic red-figure pottery from the mid-5th century BC. e. and Etruscan pottery with inscriptions of the 6th-5th centuries BC. e. Further, a layer of material was discovered with which the builders deliberately covered the lower levels, where the stairs carved into the wall go. Perhaps in the tombs? At a depth of about three meters, a tunnel was found leading to another pyramid-shaped structure.
At the excavation of the underground pyramid
Photo: David George
It is assumed that it was dug in the middle of the 5th century. BC e. All this is very mysterious - as it should be in the case of the Etruscans. Etruria (a region in central Italy now occupied by the provinces of Tuscany, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria) flourished around 900 BC. e., and for five centuries this people who came from nowhere dominated almost the entire territory of the Italian boot south of the Po River. In the 5th century BC. e. civilization, which reached heights in the field of art, agriculture, metalworking, etc., could not withstand the onslaught of the Romans who had gained strength and gradually fell into decay.
In the period from 300 to 100 BC. e. its territory gradually became part of the young and aggressive state. The language of the Etruscans (clearly not of Indo-European origin) was forgotten, no literature or documents remained of them: only epitaphs on richly decorated graves.
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Perhaps the pyramids of Orvieto will slightly open the veil of secrecy. Archaeologists believe that there are at least five such structures under the city. Experts point out that the pyramidal shape of the buildings carved into stone was most likely inspired by the natural shape of local underground caves.
It is too early to judge their appointment; at the same time, it is clear that these were neither quarries nor water reservoirs.