Ancient Etruscan-Roman Bath Treasures: ‘A Discovery That Will Rewrite History’

Conservators are now preserving the ancient artifacts before they go on display in a new museum in San Casciano. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

For centuries in Italy, people seeking good health have traveled to the spa village of San Casciano dei Bagni, in Siena province, Tuscany, to bathe in its thermal waters. In ancient times, visitors to the hilltop village once venerated statues of gods and goddesses in the bath’s sanctuary before entrusting their woes to the sulfurous waters. 

Since 2019, an international team of experts have been excavating the hilltop site of San Casciano dei Bagni, Siena province, in Tuscany, Italy. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

Since 2019, an international team of experts have excavated the village’s Etruscan-Roman bath sanctuary, and they have just unearthed more than 20 ancient bronze statues and other objects as well as 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze coins—making it the largest deposit of Etruscan and ancient Roman bronze statues ever found in Italy. 

The thermal waters and mud rich in minerals at San Casciano dei Bagni helped preserve more than 20 ancient bronze statues and other objects. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

The ancients once venerated the bronze statues of gods and goddesses in the sanctuary of San Casciano dei Bagni before entering its healing waters. The same healing waters have preserved the ancient artifacts that have just been recovered. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

Most of the site’s ancient artifacts date between the second-century B.C. and the first century, when the expansion of Rome brought war and political instability to Tuscany’s Etruscan cities. Until this discovery, it has been mostly terracotta statues that have been found from that era, making the San Casciano dei Bagni bronze statues one of the most significant discoveries in the Mediterranean.

A member of the excavation team, at San Casciano dei Bagni in Siena province, Tuscany, rescues an ancient bronze statue from the mud. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

This is “a discovery that will rewrite history,” etruscologist Jacopo Tabolli, from the University for Foreigners of Siena, said in a statement. 

Among the treasures, the archaeologists discovered bronze statues of Hygieia (goddess of health) and Apollo (god of healing) and also sculptures of human organs and other anatomical parts that people used to convey to their chosen deity what they wanted the waters to heal. 

Five of the well-preserved ancient bronze statues are more than 3 feet tall. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

Centuries of mud and thermal waters have helped preserve the artifacts to an incredible extent so that even small details, such as text, are legible. For instance, Latin and Etruscan inscriptions on some statues name powerful Etruscan families.

Inscriptions on some of the bronze statues can still be understood, and many name important Etruscan families. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

Archaeologists at San Casciano dei Bagni recently unearthed Italy's largest deposit of bronze statues from between the second century B.C. and the first century. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

The excavation team was surprised by the monumental nature of the site. It exceeded their expectations, excavation director Emanuele Mariotti said in a statement. Besides the art and numismatic treasures, he praised the early Imperial-era architecture of the sanctuary. 

Conservators are now preserving the ancient artifacts before they go on display in a new museum in San Casciano. (Ministry of Culture, Italy)

More visitors will inevitably travel to the spa village to see the works. When the experts have studied and stabilized the ancient artifacts, they will be displayed in a new museum in San Casciano. 

For Italians, this ancient Tuscan discovery is a chance to learn more about their country’s heritage and ancient traditions.