italy

Archaeological work in Pontecagnano Faiano, Italy, has been ongoing for decades, consistently revealing new insights into the region’s rich history. Recently, a preventive excavation ahead of construction work unearthed a significant section of a Samnite necropolis, dating back to the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The find has yielded 34 burials, but it is the graves of the children that have captured the attention of archaeologists and historians alike, due to the presence of mysterious and oversized bronze belts, typically associated with adult male warriors. This discovery offers a rare glimpse into the complex funerary rituals and social structures of the Samnite people. The cemetery at Pontecagnano Faiano, Italy. Right, child grave. ( Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di