Casi di riutilizzo di tombe a tumulo a Vetulonia e nel territorio: discendenti o novae gentes?

The research project of the University of Florence on the necropoleis of the territory of the Etruscan city of Vetulonia concerned a great tumulus in the necropolis of San Germano (Gavorrano, GR), already reported by Claudio Curri but never explored. The large tomb, with lateral cells and a funerary room with a central pillar (so-called ‘pseudo- tholos’), is close to the monumental tumulus of Vetulonia. Many distinct phases of use cover an extensive chronological horizon, from the late 7th century BC to the Roman period, when the funeral function of the structure ended and that of a cultural venue probably began. The preservation of the tomb and some of the grave goods enabled us to identify the actions carried out in ancient times and to restore the structure after its abandonment, dated around the mid-5th century BC, in conjunction with the crisis of Vetulonia. In addition to some observations on the aristocracies of the territory between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, the context is presented as a case study to explore some aspects of re-use of ancient tombs in the 4th century BC, a circumstance noted in other tombs of the city and territory. During this period, after a century of silence, Vetulonia seems to come to life again: the analysis of the archaeological data and other similar contexts allow us to formulate hypotheses about the reasons for its re-occupation. The study aims at identifying the protagonists of this re-arrangement, who certainly belonged to the new generations that contributed to the revival of the Etruscan city in the Hellenistic period.