1013

Title

1013

Description

Description: S1 (T13) is a square tumulus cut into the bedrock with four chambers located near the Via dei Necropoli. On the outside of the tumulus, there are three tori encircling the four sides; additionally, there are quarry marks and tufo bombs on the outside wall to the right of the entrance. The chambers do not take up much space within the tumulus; there is much left unexcavated. Chambers A and B: The front two chambers, flanking a short dromos, are open-air, with the two facade walls and ceilings having collapsed. The original height of the chambers were approximately 1.70 meters. Chamber A, the right chamber (2.64 m long and 2.09 m wide) has a rectangular plan. Within it, there is a stone bed with a cut headrest/pillow (approximately 0.70 m wide), a continuing bench along the rear wall (approximately 0.45 m wide), a collapsed wall on the exterior side, and a cut block on the floor that is not in situ. The left chamber (Chamber B), measuring 2.18 m long and 1.70 m wide, has two stone beds with carved headrests and legs parallel to each other (the distance between the beds is 0.87 m) that are connected by a stone bench (0.40 m wide) on the rear wall. Chamber C: A rectangular cut door with a rock-cut threshold leads from the entrance to the central chamber. There are two stone steps descending from the entrance to the central chamber (the total height of the two steps is 0.66 m). In the central chamber, which measures approximately 3.92 m long and 3.20 m wide, there are two cut stone beds (also approximately 0.70 m wide) either side of the chamber with stones (combination of spoliated stone and rock) on each end. Each bed rests at a higher elevation than the floor level (approximately 0.25 m), has incised legs/bedframe, and possibly rock pillows. There is a circular hole (0.51 m wide, 0.41 m high, and 0.55 m deep) above the left bed; it is possibly due to collapse but does appear quite circular. Along the ceiling is a central beam carved in relief, imitating a wooden beam, (0.43 m wide) extending throughout the width of the room. Additionally, the ceiling slants downward towards the rear of the chamber, possibly to imitate the appearance of a roof. A cut rectangular doorway leads to the back chamber, with carved rectangular windows on each side of the door, which are also present in square tumulus S2 (T11). Above these windows are two rectangular shelves carved into the wall. Chamber D: Within the back chamber, which measures approximately 2.25 m in length and 1.86 m in width, stone benches occupy three sides with a hole (likely due to collapse) on the left wall. The ceiling beam carved in relief (0.40 m wide) is present throughout the length of the rear chamber. Interpretation: The carved ceiling beam, which imitates the appearance of a two-story house, is indicative of a date of the late 6th to 5th century BCE, and it is comparable to the incised ceiling beam of the central chamber in T9. The carved shelving above the door in the central chamber is symptomatic of tombs dating later than the 5th century BCE. Additionally, its location close to the Via dei Necropoli suggests a later dating, likely between the 5th and 2nd centuries BCE. Chamber C held at least two inhumation burials, and the front chambers likely held at least three further burials (further understanding of the possible number of individuals buried in these chambers is hindered by the collapse of the walls). The rear chamber (D) possibly held the remains of further individuals, though the benches may have also been used to store grave goods. The location of the two front chambers so close to the outside of the tumulus may suggest that they were later additions, indicating possible reuse. Furthermore, the limited amount of space used within the tumulus for the carving of these chambers may suggest that further additions were intended but never fulfilled.

Alternative Title

n/a

Creator

Madelyn Mezzell

Type

TUMULUS; SQUARE; HOUSE TOMB

Date

5th - 2nd century BCE

Extent

7+

Spatial Coverage

north=42°00'15"; east=12°05'46"

References

SETS #S1013. The Cerveteri Tombs Database, accessed April 30, 2026, link.