THE ETRUSCAN TOMB
The Tomb in the locality of Colle
The main archaeological evidence in Bettona is the barrel-vaulted tomb in loc. Hill, not far from the modern settlement. The tomb is built entirely of local sandstone; the walls are lined with a double face of perfectly squared blocks committed dry. Five rows are preserved of the original outer covering.
THE ETRUSCAN TOMB
The Tomb in the locality of Colle
The main archaeological evidence in Bettona is the barrel-vaulted tomb in loc. Hill, not far from the modern settlement. The tomb is built entirely of local sandstone; the walls are lined with a double face of perfectly squared blocks committed dry. Five rows are preserved of the original outer covering.
The tomb is accessed by a small dromos with the side walls consisting of regular rows corresponding to the blocks of the inner lining and two largely original steps. Immediately before the entrance threshold a hole for water runoff is visible, another corresponding one is in the first slab of the floor level, both of which served to channel water into an underground collection chamber, at the entrance
The entrance is round-arched with a high arched lintel and irregular profile. one enters the chamber, which has four ladder-like benches leaning against the side walls and back wall. The structure, in terms of type and size, is matched by the hypogeum of S. Manno, not far from Perugia
At the time of its discovery, the tomb was already despoiled and with the materials in an upset position; however, thanks to the surviving grave goods, consisting of urns, goldwork, bronzes, and glass, sometimes in a precarious state of preservation, it is possible to assume a continuity of use from the mid-3rd to the 1st century CE.