Archaeologists discover Etruscan well that was ritually opened with offerings for a goddess — and 'closed' with human bodies
An ancient Etruscan cult likely left burials and bronze artifacts in a well that was recently discovered in Italy.
Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts at the bottom of a ritual well linked to an ancient Etruscan goddess. Among the discoveries are two bronze female statuettes and a unique bronze plate, which may have been part of an opening ceremony for the well. The well, located near the religious sanctuary of the Etruscan mother-goddess Uni, also contained the remains of a man and a woman, suggesting the bodies were part of a ritual closing of the well.
Dr. Elisabetta Govi, an archaeologist from the University of Bologna, led the excavation and believes the artifacts and human remains represent a well that served a sacred or public purpose. The Etruscans revered the female cult and water, and the discovery sheds light on the importance of agricultural fertility and female deities in their society.
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