Ritual Well at Etruscan Kainua Reveals Foundation Myth and Human Sacrifice
Elisabetta Govi and her team of archaeologists from the University of Bologna have discovered a ritual well in Kainua, located near Marzabotto, Italy. This well, situated at the site of former temples dedicated to Tinia and Uni, was used for secret ceremonies associated with the city's founding. During the 39th excavation campaign, researchers found a stratified fill containing unique ritual offerings. At the well's base, they uncovered two bronze statuettes of women and a bronze plate, which date back to the late 6th to early 5th centuries BCE. The upper layers revealed two adult skeletons, suggesting the well's closure may have involved human sacrifice. This significant discovery will be showcased at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Marzabotto (MNEMA).
Key facts
- The well was found in the urban sacred area of Kainua, near Marzabotto, Italy.
- The excavation was directed by Elisabetta Govi of the University of Bologna.
- The well contained two female bronze statuettes and a bronze plate at the bottom.
- The bronze offerings date to between the late 6th and early 5th centuries BCE.
- Two adult human skeletons were found in the upper layers, sealing the well.
- The skeletons are interpreted as a ritual closure, possibly human sacrifice.
- The find is considered a rarity for Etruscan archaeology due to its intact stratigraphy.
- The artifacts will be displayed at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Marzabotto (MNEMA), reopened last June.
Entities
Institutions
- University of Bologna
- Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Marzabotto (MNEMA)
Locations
- Marzabotto
- Italy
- Kainua
Sources
- Artslife —