In 2015, archaeologists discovered an extremely rare, 4th century BCE tomb of a woman that was created in Pompeii, not yet subjugated to the Romans. At that time, the region was under the control of the Samnites and, according to scientists, the Romans, after taking over these lands, respected the heritage of the defeated people. The find proves that the Romans did not destroy the burial site and did not build any new buildings there.
In the accidentally found grave of a woman, an amphora and clay jugs were found with the substance still inside. The jugs came from different parts of Italy, which proves that the Samnites had many contacts with other peoples in the Peninsula. Scientists are going to study the substances in the jugs more closely, but it can already be said that they contain food, wine and cosmetics. The results can be extremely interesting and tell a lot about the life and diet of the Samnites.
Archaeologists also claim that the tomb and the found objects will help to better understand the role of women in Samnite society and the social norms that regulated everyday life. After the Samnite wars in the 4th century BCE, the city was subordinated to Rome, which, however, created administrative and linguistic autonomy. At present, little is known about Pompeii’s pre-Roman times, and scientists hope that the discovery will better understand the city’s culture.
