The Etruscan remains

millenary traces that overcomed centuries of transformations

From tomb to clay warehouse

Just like most of Orvieto’s caves, the space below the first underground room was continuously modified over the course of the centuries. In fact, the excavation has the typical shape of an Etruscan tomb-bed, the place where the body of the deceased was laid to rest. When the central pit and those on the side were found, they were thought to have turned into vats, at the start of the medieval period, and were for fulling*. One thing is sure, in the centuries that followed they became used as clay deposit for the furnaces above, which was evidenced by the thick clay deposits found during their excavation. * Fulling is a process used in making textiles. it involves mechanically pounding the cloth to make it softer and more compact.

The traces of the rock tombs

The last two caves, uncovered in 2002, show an endless series of re-uses and transformations and make it challenging to interpret either their original use or their subsequent modifications. The presence of two niches with a lateral basin, one in this area and one in the next, suggest that they may be the remains of a rocky necropolis. Two practically identical structures have been found in the oldest tombs in Norchia, in Lazio, and there are other similarities with these grottos too, such as the horizontal furrows along the walls and a multitude of holes passing through the tuff. What is exceptional about this discovery is that, up until a few years ago, tombs dating back to the original Etruscan occupation of Orvieto had never been found.

The Etruscan cistern with “cocciopesto” plaster

From the fifth cave a cistern can be seen which was used to collect rainwater. This large reservoir is Etruscan, (5th – 6th century BC). The cistern was rendered water-tight using lime and finely crushed or broken terracotta, a technique known today as “cocciopesto”. Rainwater running off the roofs was channelled through ceramic pipes like those on display at the bottom of the cistern. Before reaching the cistern, it passed through a layer of material that filtered the rainwater. To improve the quality of the rainwater in the cisterns eels were often raised there. In addition to keeping the water moving, they ate mosquito larvae. Due to the lack of light, the eels became blind and white but were an excellent source of protein.

The Etruscan tunnels for water

The subsoil of Orvieto is furrowed by a dense network of Etruscan tunnels to collect water from infiltrations. It’s possible to see one from the last cave: originally connecting to the basement of Palazzo Filippeschi, it has the same structure and orientation as the one at the bottom of the Pozzo della Cava. The small furrow visible in the floor was used to carry water to collection points. What is unique about this excavation is that the canal descends along the tuff wall, instead of towards the centre of a cistern, which is more usual in similar Etruscan structures.

Curiosity

  • The continuous transformation of Orvieto’s underground should come as no surprise, given Orvieto’s position on the tuff cliff (the rupe). Although its location gave the town more significant protection against attack, as the city grew, expansion meant either sacrificing green spaces or reusing the subterranean area. The result was that this re-use practically cancelled out all traces of the past.
  • Among the various uses of our cavities, during the second World War, the tunnel and the connected rooms were used as an air-raid shelter. It was particularly well suited to this as escape was possible in several directions as well as by going down deeper.

The Pozzo della Cava Archaeological Complex was included in the Global Network of Water Museums of the UNESCO-IHP program in 2023, as it houses finds that testify to the efforts for research, collection and conservation of water for a period of time over 25 centuries.

Rain water

The main find of the Pozzo della Cava Archaeological Complex linked to rainwater is undoubtedly the Etruscan cistern. The cut made in the Middle Ages to excavate the cellar below allows you to admire this large reservoir in section, showing the part intended for the filter, at the top, and the thin and very resistant “cocciopesto” plaster, on the walls and on the bottom.
A remarkable testimony that for over 2500 years has reminded us how important it is to collect and conserve water, especially in a city built on a cliff and devoid of surface springs.