Monumental necropolis in Cyrene unearthed by Italian archaeologists
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Reported by Agenzia Nova:
In the heart of Cyrenaica, where ancient Greek colonies are rooted in stone and memory, a group of Italian archaeologists has unearthed a monumental necropolis of extraordinary historical and symbolic value. This discovery not only enriches the Mediterranean's scientific heritage, but also provides a concrete example of how culture can transcend geopolitical divisions and create bonds between institutions, territories, and communities. This is evidenced by Olivia Menozzi, professor at the University of Chieti-Pescara. Menozzi, who, together with Oscar Mei (Carlo Bo University of Urbino) and Serenella Ensoli (Luigi Vanvitelli University of Naples), is the director of one of the three archaeological missions in Cyrene and of the mapping of the territory at the monumental site of the necropolis of the ancient Greek colony. Cyrene, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in what is now northeastern Libya, controlled by the so-called Government of National Stability (GSN) headed by General Khalifa Haftar"The restoration project at the Cyrene site is exciting. So far, five tombs have been discovered and excavated—with a sixth awaiting work—but it was the last one that surprised us: we discovered rock-cut chamber tombs, with very elaborate architectural facades, and inside they have burial niches or monumental sarcophagi, also carved into the rock. It's all rock-cut," commented the director.
In tomb number two, also known as the Archaic Tomb, the inhumed bodies of three adults and several children were found. "They had a rich grave goods, made of Attic and locally produced pottery, testifying to the family's aristocratic origins. They were accompanied by many votive offerings, such as flower plates and small amphorae containing scented oil," explains Menozzi. Greek and Hellenistic influence is very strong in this part of Libya, as confirmed by Menozzi: "In each of these tombs, we found beautiful Attic ceramic objects from the 5th and 4th centuries BC. We also found a beautiful head from a funerary deity statue, representing deities who accompanied the deceased into the afterlife. It is interesting how the Cyrenaica tradition of chthonic female deities—associated with the underworld—merged with the Greek tradition in a religious syncretism with the deities Persephone and Demeter," specifying that the heads found are all made of "Greek marble imported directly from Paros, Naxos, or Athens."
Tombs one and three are architecturally designed burial niches, within which the remains of multiple individuals were found. "These are most likely family burials, belonging to at least three generations of the same family," explains Professor Menozzi, emphasizing that "definitive confirmation will only come with genetic analysis." DNA analysis is currently underway, in collaboration with physical anthropologist Alfredo Coppa—a professor at Sapienza University and a scientific collaborator at Harvard Medical School—as part of a genetic mapping project of the entire archaeological site. Regarding the finds, Menozzi emphasizes that "some male individuals wore crowns composed of terracotta beads covered in gold leaf and small bronze inserts, a clear sign of social distinction and membership in an aristocratic elite." Tomb three held at least six individuals, four adults and two children, while the smaller tomb one contained the remains of a family of three.
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