File:Up hill and down dale in ancient Etruria (1910) (14597327058).jpg

Identifier: uphilldowndalein00seym (find matches)
Title: Up hill and down dale in ancient Etruria
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Seymour, Frederick H. A
Subjects: Etruria -- Antiquities Tuscany (Italy) -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : Fisher Unwin
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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badella Pietrera, alluded to, was situated beneath anearthern tumulus, as was the case with most of themore important tombs throughout Etruria. ThisTomba della Pietrera was one of the Necropolisproper and was unearthed in the excavations of1891-93. A type of cinerary tomb frequent in Vetu-lonia is that known as & pozzetto, and I shouldsuppose,—as the cinerary hut-urn is often foundwithin the jar,—of a very early epoch. The mouthof the jar or bowl is closed by a cover of stone, orsometimes of bronze, often of the shape of a shield.The same type is found elsewhere—at Volterra e.g.Here, I think, it is more common. A few words uponthe cinerary hut-urns of terra-cotta may be allowed.For it is beyond dispute that they do represent thehumbler dwelling-places of the early Races in Italy.I say Italy,—because the discovery at or near Albanoa few years ago of some beneath the lava, which hadflowed from the old volcano of Monte Cavo, showsthat the style was familiar in Latium too. One
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% h £Lj&t VETULONIA 165 supposes that the original habitation was formed ofwood. Be that as it may, the skill with which theseterra-cotta models have been wrought is very remark-able. Every detail of the original habitation has beenminutely rendered. In form more generally ellipticthan circular, the roof which forms the cover or lid isdecorated by beams and rafters. It has a squaredoor and a square window both defined by three linesof moulding ; over the roof lengthways, and exactlyin the centre, is a raised pipe no doubt to carry offthe smoke of the fire, which in ancient times blazedupon the floor. Three pairs of twisted ornamentsshaped like horns stand out upon the roof. Theseprobably were introduced as ornaments for thepurpose of concealing the pipe which the inhabitantsmay have considered unsightly. The hut is oftenincised or scratched outside with mere lines, just asthe ruder and earlier vases are scratched. Onecurious feature of this urn is that the door has ahandle affixe

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