- chapter 32: Worshiping with the dead –
not only in Cerveteri and its territory (Blera, San Giuliano, San Giovenale) but in Vulci,
Tarquinia and Veii too (Figs 32.1, 32.2). In Northern Etruria the chamber tombs and the
tumuli are mostly built in limestone or sandstone blocks and slabs (Populonia, Vetulonia,
Artimino, Quinto Fiorentino, Castellina in Chianti, Cortona), whereas in Southern Etruria
structures hollowed out in the soft volcanic tufa stone are clearly prevailing. Characteristic
for the north (especially between the areas of Volterra and Florence) in the middle and late
Orientalizing period are round burial chambers with false cupola and sometimes a central
pillar = the so-called tholos tombs which remind one of the much older Mycenean tholoi
Figure 32.1 Cerveteri, Banditaccia Necropolis, tumulus with profi led base of Orientalizing period.Figure 32.2 Tarquinia, Doganaccia, Tumulo della Regina: antechamber with remains of wall plaster of
Middle Orientalizing period.