- chapter 5: The Villanovan culture –
indicating an individual’s prestige, showing frequent exchange of objects between different
Etruscan communities and other communities of different cultures, especially those of
Nuragic Sardinia (see Chapters 10 to 12). Alongside cremation burial, inhumation in
earthen trenches appears and, in Populonia exceptionally, in chamber tombs with pseudo-
vaults (Fig. 5.7). The deceased lies on his back fully clothed: more ornaments were placed
with women, while men had weapons, and both sexes were accompanied by vases. The
complement of ceramic vessels appears usual in all depositions whether cremation or
inhumation. Weapons are now more often attested, but always in depositions that stand
out with other elements (hut urns, scepters, etc.); more common among male burials are
grave goods with helmet and razor, less common are those with helmet (mostly bronze),
razor, sword and spear (Fig. 5.8). It is evidence, then, of a gradual transformation in
funeral ritual, for which the previously sparse set of goods usually becomes more complex;
Figure 5.7 Chamber tomb at Populonia: tomb of rasoio lunato (after A. Minto, Populonia,
Florence, 1943).Figure 5.8 Grave group from Tarquinia (after F. Falchetti, Etruschi, Florence, 2000: photo
Soprintendenza archeologica per la Toscana).