The excavation campaign investigated several tombs of “semi-dado” and “aedicola” type situated in the locality of Melaiolo. Already partly known, they were cleaned and rendered visitable. Excavations were also undertaken at Poggio Felceto circa 50m west of the “Tomb of Ildebranda” where a new tomb was discovered, named the “Tomb of the Winged Demons”, characterized by an array of fallen sculptures. A fusiform unguentarium and a few fragments of black glaze pottery were found inside the tiny funerary chamber. Due to its precarious state of preservation it was necessary to render the monument safe by the application of a series of rivets. Subsequent interventions included lifting the blocks, cleaning operations, the excavation of the large niche at the centre of the façade and the consolidation the painted decoration. A project is currently being planned for the restoration of this monument.
The tomb is an “aedicola” with a deep niche in which the deceased is sculpted in a recumbent position at a banquet. The sculpture still conserves traces of its polychrome painted decoration. On either side of the niche stood a statue of a winged demon, that on the left holding a torch can be identified with Vanth. The façade is crowned by a triangular tympanum decorated with a sea demon with wings and fish tails (Scylla or Triton). This is bordered at the bottom by an architrave with triglyphs and paterae and topped by a cyma moulding. In the platea in front of the façade stood two statues on high pedestals placed in a symmetrical position, the one on the left representing a lion. The tomb dates to the second half of the 3rd century B.C. and constitutes the most important example of an “aedicola” tomb with recumbent figure known today. It is comparable to the “Tomb of the Sirena” at Sopraripa, to which it differs in having a lion as a guardian. However, this is not an unusual feature, an example is documented at Sovana. (Gabriella Barbieri)