Archaic Greek marble Kore head unearthed at Vulci archaeological park

A marble head of a Kore, the upper part of a female statue dating to the 7th–5th century BCE, has been discovered in the Vulci Archaeological Park during excavations of the Vulci Cityscape project, which began in 2020. The head, stylistically attributed to an Attic workshop from the early decades of the 5th century BCE, was found in the area of a monumental temple uncovered in 2021. It was presented on December 5 in Rome at the Sala della Crociera of the Ministry of Culture. The sculpture is currently undergoing restoration and diagnostic analysis at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro in Rome to study its materials, techniques, and possible traces of color. The find provides new insights into Etruscan cultural and artistic contacts with the Greek world. The Vulci Cityscape project, led by the Universities of Freiburg and Mainz in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the province of Viterbo and Southern Etruria and the Fondazione Vulci, aims to reconstruct the organization and development of the ancient city through stratigraphic and topographic surveys. Alfonsina Russo, head of the Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, stated that the discovery will help promote Vulci nationally and internationally through an integrated strategy combining archaeological research, landscape protection, innovative exhibition languages, international networks, and local community participation.