26 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Sewer Project Leads to Discovery of Rare Hellenistic Chamber Tomb

A major archaeological discovery has been made in Manduria, in Italy’s Taranto province, where construction work for new sewer pipelines has revealed a Hellenistic-era chamber tomb dating to the 4th century BCE. The find, supervised by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio (ABAP) for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto, provides new evidence of the Messapian settlement’s sophisticated burial practices and confirms the archaeological importance of this area in southern Italy.

The tomb, located in Via Scarciglia, is part of a small funerary complex and consists of two separate rooms. The first space, interpreted as a dromos or antechamber, preserves traces of red-painted plaster with a raised white band running horizontally along the walls. Excavations here uncovered a rich assemblage of Hellenistic pottery in primary context, including vases, oil lamps, unguentaria, and plates—all firmly datable to the 4th century BCE.

The entrance to the main burial chamber features a moulded stone lintel that reflects careful craftsmanship and suggests the tomb may have belonged to an individual of elevated social status. The entrance was once sealed with a red-plastered double-leaf stone door, fragments of which were recovered during excavation. Inside the chamber, archaeologists identified additional painted plaster remains and four rectangular recesses carved into the southern floor—likely supports for a wooden funerary bed.

The chamber tomb from the Hellenistic period discovered in Manduria. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.
The chamber tomb from the Hellenistic period discovered in Manduria. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.

Evidence of Ancient Tomb Robbery

Archaeological investigation revealed that the tomb complex had been disturbed in antiquity. Several holes were cut through the chamber walls, likely in an attempt to reach nearby burials. Through one of these openings, archaeologists discovered a second tomb that had remained sealed externally but was found to be empty, suggesting it was looted in antiquity.

Despite the lack of grave goods, a Roman Republican denarius was recovered from the backfill of this second tomb. This small find indicates that the area continued to be used or visited well into the Roman period, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s changing funerary landscape.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Who Were the Messapians?

The Messapians were an ancient Italic people who inhabited the Salento Peninsula in southern Apulia from at least the 8th century BCE. Thought to have Illyrian origins, they developed a distinct culture marked by fortified hilltop settlements, elaborate burial customs, and unique inscriptions written in the Messapic language, a non-Indo-European tongue.

By the 4th century BCE, Messapian society had been deeply influenced by Magna Graecia, adopting Greek architectural styles, pottery, and funerary traditions while preserving indigenous cultural traits. The discovery of the Manduria tomb adds valuable evidence to this cultural synthesis, illustrating the wealth and cosmopolitan character of Messapian elites during the Hellenistic era.

A Roman Republican denarius recovered at the excavation site. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.
A Roman Republican denarius recovered at the excavation site. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.

Expanding Knowledge of Manduria’s Necropolis

This discovery follows earlier findings from late 2024, when the same sewer works exposed a cluster of 11 rock-cut pit graves along Via Scarciglia. Together, these finds confirm that this sector of Manduria functioned as a structured necropolis during the Hellenistic period.

Manduria, historically part of the Messapian culture of southern Apulia, is already known for its imposing city walls and archaeological richness. The newly discovered tomb adds depth to our understanding of Messapian burial customs, which blended local Italic traditions with influences from the wider Mediterranean world during the centuries following Magna Graecia’s expansion.

Collaboration Between Infrastructure and Heritage Protection

The excavation was conducted by Impact Soc. Coop., a specialized archaeological company, under the direct scientific supervision of the Ministry of Culture’s ABAP office. The works were carried out in compliance with Italy’s public procurement regulations, which mandate archaeological oversight during major infrastructure projects.

This successful coordination between the Soprintendenza and Acquedotto Pugliese (AQP), the water utility responsible for the sewer project, demonstrates how modern development can coexist with heritage conservation. AQP emphasized its commitment to cultural preservation, supporting ongoing excavation and documentation efforts to protect the archaeological record while completing essential infrastructure.

Hellenistic chamber tomb discovered during sewer works in Manduria, Italy. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.
Hellenistic chamber tomb discovered during sewer works in Manduria, Italy. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto.

Digital Preservation: A 3D Model of the Tomb

As part of the post-excavation process, experts are conducting a photogrammetric survey of the chamber tomb to create a high-resolution 3D digital model. This cutting-edge documentation method will ensure that the tomb’s architecture, decoration, and context are preserved for future study and potentially made accessible to the public through virtual reconstructions.

Such initiatives highlight the growing role of digital archaeology in Italy, enabling researchers, students, and the public to explore heritage sites even when direct access is not possible.

Soprintendenza archeologia belle arti e paesaggio Brindisi e Lecce

Cover Image Credit: The Hellenistic-period chamber tomb discovered in Manduria. Credit: Ministry of Culture – Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto

Related Articles

Assyriologist solves archaeological mystery from 700 BC in Khorsabad, Iraq

7 May 2024

7 May 2024

A new interpretation of a set of temple symbols that have puzzled scholars for more than a century has been...

First Trilobite Fossil Amulet from Roman Early Empire (1st–3rd Century CE) Found in Spain

22 July 2025

22 July 2025

In a discovery that may reshape our understanding of how ancient Romans perceived the natural world, archaeologists have uncovered a...

‘Roman numerals’ discovered on Stone of Destiny ahead of King Charles III coronation

8 April 2023

8 April 2023

New research has revealed previously unrecorded markings that appear to be Roman numerals on the Stone of Destiny, considered one...

2,000-year-old unique luxury Roman villa with “underfloor heating” found in Germany

3 November 2022

3 November 2022

A luxury Roman villa with a thermal bath and underfloor heating has been unearthed in Kempten, Bavaria, one of the...

1,500-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Unearthed in Mardin: Hidden Masterpiece Rescued from Smugglers

24 October 2025

24 October 2025

A 1,500-year-old mosaic depicting vivid animal figures has been recovered during an anti-smuggling operation in southeastern Türkiye’s Mardin province. Buried...

Remains of a Roman stylobate found in Montenegro

19 July 2023

19 July 2023

In ancient Rhizon (Risan) in Montenegro, remains of a Roman stylobate (a shared base for multiple columns) were uncovered. In...

Ancient Jordanian town referred to as Heshbon in the Old Testament provides insight into regional agricultural history

20 January 2022

20 January 2022

The American archaeologist stated that Tell Hisban, located on the Madaba plains of Jordan, represents the “granary of the empires”....

Iron Age comb found made from human skull in UK

2 March 2023

2 March 2023

Researchers from the London Archaeological Museum (MOLA) determined that an Iron Age comb they found during an archaeological dig that...

Hannibal’s Italian Ally: 170 Meters of Fortifications and 450 Roman Lead Projectiles Discovered

20 June 2025

20 June 2025

Archaeologists in Ugento, a city in southern Italy that once sided with Hannibal during the Second Punic War, have uncovered...

1,800-Year-Old Roman Watchtower Discovered in Croatia

3 August 2025

3 August 2025

Archaeologists in Croatia have uncovered the remains of a 1,800-year-old Roman watchtower that once stood guard along the empire’s northern...

5,000-Year-Old Fortress Discovered in Romania Using LiDAR Technology

22 March 2025

22 March 2025

Archaeologists have unveiled a 5,000-year-old fortress hidden deep within the forests of Neamț County, Romania. This remarkable find, made possible...

5500-year-old pentagon structure found in North China

13 November 2021

13 November 2021

Archaeologists discovered the remnants of a pentagonal structure going back 5,500 years in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, north China. According to...

Ancient Thracian Royal Palace Uncovered in Vratsa, Bulgaria: Possible Seat of the Powerful Triballi Ruler

14 July 2025

14 July 2025

Archaeologists have unearthed what may be one of the most significant Thracian discoveries of the 21st century: the remains of...

14th-century inscription found on Turkey’s Giresun Island

4 January 2022

4 January 2022

On Giresun Island, which is 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) off the Turkish province of Giresun on the Black Sea’s southeastern...

An extraordinary medieval belt loop found near Kamień Pomorski in Poland

18 March 2024

18 March 2024

A late medieval belt loop for hanging keys or a bag was found near the town of Kamień Pomorski in...