A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com – Many secrets of the ancient Etruscans who represent one of the most enigmatic civilizations in Europe are still to be discovered.

Etruscan cemeteries contain different types of burial practices dated from the 9th to the 1st century BC and bear witness to the achievements of Etruscan culture, which over nine centuries developed the earliest urban civilization in the northern Mediterranean.

Some of the tombs are monumental, cut in the rock, and decorated by impressive tumuli (burial mounds) and carvings. In contrast, others have wall paintings that successfully survived until now. However, many Etruscans tombs have been looted over the centuries.