SELVA LA ROCCA: LA (RI)SCOPERTA DI UN SITO ETRUSCO NEL TERRITORIO CERETANO MERIDIONALE*

Abstract

The Necropolis of Selva la Rocca could be considered one of the most important funerary sites in the southern
territory of Caere, comparable with sites such as Monteroni, Le Fornaci, Procojo di Ceri and Vaccina.
However, following its discovery and excavation by Donna Teresa Caetani, duchess of Sermoneta, between
1838 and 1841, its existence was almost forgotten, and the objects discovered on the site were largely lost
to the antiquities trade. However, the discovery of new archival documents and the subsequent comparative
study carried out with previously published materials has made it possible to provide a new analysis
of almost thirty graves, which date from the 7th to the 3rd century BC. In conjunction with this, on-site
reconnaissance has led to the discovery of well-preserved stretches of a road system, which it may be possible
to identify as part of an ancient route linking Caere with Rome. By reflecting on this newly revealed
data, it has therefore been possible to place the emerging findings within the wider context of the Caeretan
territorial system and to formulate a hypothesis to identify the inhabited centre on which the Necropolis of
Selva la Rocca must have depended.