Etruscan Tombs

Today was freezing day to say the least. The high was 18 degrees and with wind-chill it felt like 8 degrees. We had our first history field trip to the ancient Etruscan tombs dating back to the first and second century BC. We had a 25-minute bus ride to Tarquina, which was one of the major Etruscan settlement cities. Tuscania was another city but there are much fewer found artifacts within Tusncaia in comparison to Tarquina. It was very interesting to finally see what we have been learning so much about in class. The tombs were beautiful and very well kept for how history they are! Many had colorful paintings along the walls and funeral beds in which people were placed with many valuable goods surrounding them. Some of the tombs still had pottery, jewelry, weapons, and parts of carriages that were used during this time. Very few had skeletal remains left, but some skulls were still intact. Most of these types of tombs belonged to the aristocrats, the families who could afford such lavish funeral burials. Many of the paintings within the tombs depicted aristocratic banquet scenes or typical war scenes which took place between the Etruscan and Greek civilizations. Many tombs had large pottery glasses that were painted with black and red paint. Much of this pottery had senses of men in amour fighting off ancient mythological creatures. I thoroughly enjoyed this field trip and found it very interesting and informative to see the things in which I was learning. I would recommend anyone to visit this site if given the chance! There is so much history at the end of your fingertips! Truly an amazing experience!