Documentary Claims Capestrano Warrior Is a Fascist-Era Forgery

A new documentary, "Il Guerriero mi pare strano" by Alessio Consorte, released online on October 21, 2024, challenges the authenticity of the Capestrano Warrior, a 6th-century BC statue and symbol of the Abruzzo region housed at the Museo archeologico nazionale d'Abruzzo in Chieti. Consorte alleges the statue is a forgery created in 1934 to claim a discovery reward, possibly fabricated with the collaboration of the fascist government and modeled on Benito Mussolini. The documentary highlights opacity in official studies: the Direzione Regionale Musei Abruzzo denied Consorte access to scientific analyses, leading him to win a court order (TAR) that was reportedly ignored. Regional President Marco Marsilio has also commented on the controversy. Despite the documentary's amateurish approach, the presence of a necropolis beneath the statue supports its authenticity, though questions remain.