La tomba 137 e le fasi iniziali della necropoli di Monte Abatone, Cerveteri

The aim of this contribution is to illustrate the grave goods of Tomb 137 recovered in the necropolis of Monte Abatone (Cerveteri). In fact, the tomb presents a rich female burial which, to our present knowledge, represents a pretty unique example within the context of this necropolis, and possibly dates back to the Villanovian period. Investigation on the Monte Abatone necropolis began in the middle of the last century, conducted by the Fondazione Lerici from Milan. The archaeological excavations brought to light 641 tombs, mostly chambers, dating from the Early Orientalizing and the Roman period. On the evidence of the grave goods of tomb 137 we can backdate the continuous funerary use of the Monte Abatone plateau to an estimated dating in the third quarter of the eighth century B.C. At the same time, the presence of imported objects also broadens the picture of external relations characterizing the proto-urban settlement of Cerveteri in that period.