Sacred nails of Etruscans

American archaeologists working in Tuskany announced the discovery of historic importance - they succeeded in dugging out sanctuary of Etruscans, predecessors of Roman civilization. Among findings are ten separate sacred iron nails.

Excavations are conducted at the secluded alp at the Tsetamura Dale Kyanti place - the region, populated early by Etruscans and ancient Romans (by the way, recent genetic study showed that the Etruscans are not completely their ancestors in anthropological sense, as it was considered until most recently). The section is investigated for elongation almost every summer since 1983, when the professor of Florida state university Nancy de Grammond- the director of archaelogical programs, which the university conducts in Italy, exported the first group of students to the practice.

Archaeologists were fortunate on the outcome of this year works. She says that she has found nothing more thrilling in 23 years, of the excavation.

The remains of monumental rock sanctuary, according to Grammond informations, belongs to the epoch of extinction of a great civilization. At the beginning of June scientists knew supposedly the location of an altar in the limits of a building. Since then they have extracted enormous quantity of artifacts from the earth,the majority of which – the equipment for conducting the diverse sacral ceremonies. Findings make it necessary to reexamine theories relative to religion, associated rituals and their places in the life of ancient people.

Etruscans before the subjugation by Romans were characterized by a progressive, highly developed culture. They not only laid roads and water pipes with the sewerage collectors and based first real European cities, but raised complex ritual constructions too. One of such temples, apparently, was located in Tsetamure.

“The building is built according to the completely nonstandard and asymmetric plan,- says Grammond, -on rock foundations with thickness about meter”. One wing with the length approximately of 18 m frames space, where remaining walls meet orthogonally. Some of them are wavy or are laid along the diagonal. The part of foundations is so imposing that, as it is assured professor Grammond, they could be placed only for multistage construction.

In the middle, it is probable, was located large internal court. Archaeologists exarticulated autonomous area from the sandstone in its limits , which, in all likelihood, fulfilled functions of altar.

The deepening is filled with offerings to gods literally to the brim.

Among gifts there are ten vessels both miniature, and gigantic, meanted for storing of grain and wine. Furthermore, to archaeologists were have reached small glasses and cups for food and drink, and also cups, in which people held the oil and spices.

A part of this entire ceramic abundance is broken, probably, from ceremonial considerations.

In the heap of battle the special attention of specialists drew the crock with the inscription, which contains the name of Lurs - Etruscan god, who is known almost nothing until now, only that fact that the Etruscans worshipped him.

It is interesting that the utensils are in essence of local production, but not imported. From this it follows that believers, that attended sanctuary, proposed to gods those singlehandedly prepared specially in their honor.

“When we restore all vases, we will have the luxurious collection of Etruscan brown ware of identical dating and origin, its kind of sketching of separately undertaken instants of life of Etruscans and its place in the history”, - Grammond dreams.

In her opinion, as the most eminent obtained artifact should be recognized ten iron nails in perfect condition. As it is known from the ancient-Roman sources, Etruscans considered nails as sacred and rated them as the symbol of inflexible fate. They were used also in rituals: yearly into the wall of the temple were driven nails in the honor of Nurtsiya goddess.

The cult sense of nails is not finally explained as yet, but they may well relate to the stroke of time and sacred calendar of Etruscans.