Time.news – The excavation works for the construction of a residential building have brought to light Messina a sector of the larger Hellenistic-Roman necropolis of the Orti della Maddalena from the 2nd century BC. La necropolis, which is part of a larger and more stratified area documented by systematic research conducted in the last twenty years by the Superintendence of Messina throughout the area, contributes to enrich the picture of the knowledge on the extension and on the funerary typologies of the southern necropolis of ancient city of Messina.
The excavation, started in January 2020, allowed to bring to light seven burials that were 90 centimeters deep. These are ‘earth pit’ burials, that is long and narrow pits dug into the ground within which the skeletons, still intact, of individuals laid in a supine position with the head facing north-east and arms outstretched were found. along the sides, of cremations and a burial in a brick chest.
Ointments and skylight
The tombs have also returned objects of funerary equipment consisting mainly of spindle-shaped clay ointments as well as a cup megarese and a small light with an anvil spout that allow you to identify the period of use of the necropolis in the second century BC. “This discovery – says Mirella Vinci, Superintendent of Messina – is of extraordinary importance for the conditions in which the tombs are located and because it allows us to broaden our knowledge of the funerary typologies of the southern necropolis of the ancient city of Messina. ‘importance of the discovery we carried out a temporary occupation of the land and handed over the archaeological exploration work to a specialized company that will start the in-depth activities on Monday 19th “.
The wealth of a territory
“This is an important find – underlines the councilor for cultural heritage and Sicilian identity, Alberto Samona – which takes place a few weeks after a similar discovery in Marsala. Once again, hitherto untouched tombs that represent the wealth of our territory and the importance of excavations as an element for the reconstruction of our history “.
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