Archaeologists from the University of Turin have announced an exciting find at Tarquinia near Viterbo (Lazio). They claim to have unearthed the oldest known painted burial chamber in the entire region of Etruria, home of the Etruscans.

The tomb, in the Lucumoni necropolis, is believed to have belonged to a person of great importance, possibly a member of the royal family, and is estimated to be 2,700 years old. This makes it at least two centuries older than the famous Leopard Tomb, till now considered to be the oldest painted Etruscan tomb.

Archaeologists have so far excavated only the antechamber and expect to find other surprises and possibly treasures when they penetrate the actual burial chamber.