Etruscan tomb in Italy yields Greek wine jug used as cremation urn

Archaeologists in central Italy have discovered a 2,600-year-old Etruscan tomb where a Greek wine jug was used as a cremation urn for a high-status individual, a practice that has surprised researchers. The artifact, found in the Poledrara necropolis near the ancient city of Vulci, contained human ashes instead of wine. The tomb, dating to the 7th century BCE, consists of at least three chambers whose collapsed roofs preserved numerous items, including weapons, gold and bronze plates, jewelry, clothing elements, and parts of a chariot. The Greek jug, identified as Corinthian-made, depicts horsemen and a siren, and was protected by a travertine enclosure with a stone slab. The cremation itself indicates the deceased's high social standing, though their identity remains unknown. The burial also yielded a nearly complete banquet set and a bronze tripod from Rhodes, leading excavation leader Cristiana Mase to call it a "tomb of the highest rank." The jug has been restored and is now displayed at the Vulci museum.