Italian Ministry of CultureThe Tomb of Cerberus in Giugliano, Italy.
Last year, archaeologists excavating a necropolis near Naples, Italy, discovered an ancient ornamented tomb featuring vivid frescoes of well-known myths, including a depiction of Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of the Underworld.
Researchers dubbed it the “Tomb of Cerberus,” and they have since been collecting and analyzing the materials inside. Now, archaeologists have announced that they were able to view the contents of one of the sarcophagi found in the tomb using a tiny camera.
This marks the first time in 2,000 years that another human has seen inside the sarcophagus, and researchers are hopeful that further testing will reveal new information about ancient Roman customs in the region.
Discovering A 2,000-Year-Old Tomb In The Italian Countryside
Italian Ministry of CultureA fresco of two ichthyocentaurs, centaur-like beings with fish tails, in the Tomb of Cerberus.
In 2023, archaeologists were excavating a site in Giugliano, Italy, when they came upon a 2,000-year-old tomb decorated in frescoes. Researchers called it the “Tomb of Cerberus” after they discovered a depiction of the mythical three-headed dog inside.
The area where the tomb was found is famous for its ancient burials. Many of them stem back to the Roman Republic (509 B.C.E. to 27 B.C.E.) and the Roman Imperial Age (31 B.C.E. to 476 C.E.).
The team discovered the tomb largely by accident. They initially believed its walls represented the end of the cemetery they were excavating, but they later found a stone slab guarding an entrance. Behind this slab lay the elaborate frescoes and two sarcophagi.
Researchers did not open the sarcophagi for fear of damaging or destroying their contents. It wasn’t until recently that the team carried out a successful investigation that finally exposed the interior of one of the coffins to the world.
A Sarcophagus Reveals New Information About The Tomb Of Cerberus
Italian Ministry of CultureThe interior of the sarcophagus.
The research team decided to put a miniature camera into one of the sarcophagi to see what was inside without harming it. After feeding the device into a small gap in the sarcophagus, archaeologists were able to see the contents that had been left undisturbed for over 2,000 years.
The camera captured images of a shrouded body lying in a supine position. Surprisingly, the material of the shroud had been preserved by the conditions inside of the tomb.
Alongside the human remains, researchers captured images of burial offerings like pottery and strigils, which are tools ancient Romans used to scrape dirt, perspiration, and oil from their skin before bathing. The team also collected samples for testing.
“In recent months… laboratory analyses conducted on samples taken from the inhumations and the depositional beds have returned a considerable amount of data on the treatment of the deceased’s body and the funerary ritual carried out, significantly enriching the panorama of our knowledge,” Superintendent Mariano Nuzzo from Italy’s Ministry of Culture announced in a statement.
Testing revealed the presence of chenopodium, known colloquially as goosefoot, as well as wormwood, which were likely applied to the corpse as creams to prevent body degradation after death. Currently, the research team awaits the results of the human DNA sample analysis.
Overall, the opulence of the tomb and the lengths ancient mourners went to preserve and honor the person buried inside tell researchers that he or she was likely someone of importance, maybe even the head of a powerful local family, but more research is necessary.
“Continued archaeological research and laboratory sampling and analysis in the coming months will yield additional interesting data,” the Ministry of Culture concluded.