Archaeologists in southern Italy have uncovered a rare Greek-era tomb during sewer construction in Manduria, a town in Taranto Province. The chamber tomb, dating to the 4th century BCE, came to light as crews laid new pipelines along Via Scarciglia. The excavation is overseen by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio (ABAP) for Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.
Officials said the discovery sheds new light on the burial traditions of the Messapians, an ancient people who thrived in the region before Roman rule. Experts believe the find reinforces Manduria's importance as one of southern Italy's richest archaeological landscapes.
The tomb is part of a small funerary complex with two chambers. The first, identified as a dromos or entrance room, still bears traces of red-painted plaster with a white horizontal band. Excavations revealed a collection of Greek pottery, including vases, oil lamps, unguentaria, and plates, all preserved in their original placement and securely dated to the 4th century BCE.
The main burial chamber was sealed in antiquity with a double-leaf stone door once covered in red plaster, fragments of which were found during the dig.
Its entrance is marked by a carefully worked stone lintel, suggesting the tomb was built for someone of high social standing. Inside, archaeologists found remnants of painted plaster and four rectangular recesses carved into the floor, which were likely supports for a wooden funerary bed.
Investigations revealed that the tomb complex was disturbed in antiquity. Holes cut through the chamber walls appear to have been attempts to reach nearby burials. One of these breaches led to a second tomb. Although sealed from the outside, it was found to be empty, suggesting it had been looted in ancient times.
A Roman Republican denarius recovered from the backfill suggests that the area remained in use or was revisited during the Roman period, offering a glimpse into changing funerary practices.
The Messapians (Ancient Greek: Μεσσάπιοι) inhabited the Salento Peninsula from at least the 8th century BCE. Their culture was marked by fortified hilltop settlements, elaborate burials, and inscriptions in the Messapic language.
According to ancient Greek geographer Strabo, the names Iapygians, Daunians, Peucetians, and Messapians were Greek exonyms rather than terms used by the local inhabitants themselves. The names Messapii and Messapia are generally interpreted as "(the land) amid waters." Strabo notes that these were the names applied by the Tarentine Greeks to the Iapygian communities, whose members called themselves Calabri (Ancient Greek: Καλαβροί) and Salentini (Ancient Greek: Σαλεντίνοι), and referred to their homeland as Iapygia. Interestingly, the exonym Messapia in southern Italy mirrors toponyms found in ancient Greece, such as Messapio, reflecting the cultural and linguistic ties between the regions.
By the 4th century BCE, their society reflected strong influence from Magna Graecia, adopting Greek styles in architecture, pottery, and burial traditions while preserving local customs. The Manduria tomb illustrates this cultural blend, highlighting the wealth and cosmopolitan character of Messapian elites during the Hellenistic era.
The discovery follows earlier finds in late 2024, when sewer works along the same street revealed 11 rock-cut pit graves. Together, the evidence confirms that this sector of Manduria served as a structured necropolis during the Hellenistic period.
Impact Soc. Coop. excavated under ABAP's scientific supervision, in collaboration with Acquedotto Pugliese, the water utility overseeing the pipeline project.
Officials emphasized that the project complied with procurement rules requiring archaeological monitoring. The coordination between heritage authorities and AQP demonstrates how modern infrastructure can proceed while safeguarding cultural treasures.
Post-excavation work includes a photogrammetric survey to create a high-resolution 3D model of the tomb. The digital reconstruction will preserve the monument's details for study and potentially make it accessible to the public.
Experts say the initiative highlights the expanding role of digital archaeology in Italy, opening new ways for researchers and the public to engage with the country's past.