Types are Vecchi no. 118, 122, 123, and MAYBE 124 = HN Italy 214, 216, 217, 218
Below follows up dates from 9 April 2026
“The excavation conducted by the Marzi brothers yielded a wealth of bronzes, among which are particularly noteworthy a series of *aes rude* and several *aes signatum* pieces—specifically, one featuring a ram’s head on the obverse and a club; another depicting an anchor and a dolphin; one with an ear of grain and two pellets; and two quadrangular pieces bearing the letter A in relief on both faces.”
From same report. Aes Rude in Nearby burials:
Machine translation:
“Not far from the Arnoaldi lands—specifically within the properties of Marquis De Luca, situated to the west of the city, 1,150 meters from Porta San Isaia and 240 meters from the Certosa—excavations continue under the direction and tireless patronage of the distinguished engineer Antonio Zannoni, renowned for the celebrated discoveries he made in that vicinity between 1870 and 1873. In the course of these new investigations, he has thus far uncovered 110 tombs: seven of these were discovered just last January—two containing the remains of cremated bodies, and the others holding the remains of inhumed individuals. From his official reports, I gather that the bones of the first cremated individual were housed within a red-figure krater; accompanying the bones were several small amber beads and two small terracotta pendants. The second tomb was surmounted by several solid travertine blocks shaped in an ovolo profile; at the bottom—alongside smaller vessels—were found a large red-figure krater, an amphora, fragments of an alabaster unguentarium, a piece of aes rude (raw bronze), a bronze pin, a few remnants of a lead candelabrum, and a small blue glass bead.
From the tombs of the second type (inhumations), the following items were recovered: in the first, a very few fragments of a red-figure cotyle, three bronze fibulae, a small amber bead, and a piece of aes rude; in the second, merely two fragments of a brown amphora; and in the third, several cups alongside a large red-figure krater, three dice accompanied by sixteen small colored-glass hemispheres, and a bronze simpulum. The fourth tomb remained intact and contained a skeleton with its head oriented toward the west; lying to the left of the skeleton was a red-figure kelebe, accompanied by other black-glazed vessels, a colored-glass balsamarium, and a piece of aes rude. To the right lay a spearhead and an iron band. In the last one—which had, however, been previously rifled—nothing was found save the handle of a large krater; nevertheless, within the area of this tomb, and in the adjacent one, fragments of inscriptions belonging to figured stelae were collected—some of which join together and can be read as follows…
A major Aes Rude find and reflections on Aes Rude in Etruscan tombs
Aes in Tombs near Orvieto (another reported find)
Similar finds at Bologna, still drawing from NSc 1876:
“As excavations resumed toward the middle of the month, sixteen uncremated burials were further explored; within them were encountered skeletal remains, fragments of brown-ware vessels and red-figure kotylai, an arrowhead, and a small bronze lion. In one grave, several pieces of a cista were found—the lid of which was surmounted by two statuettes forming an arch with their bodies—while in another lay various fragments of a red-figure kelebe, a bronze boss, and a large piece of aes rude. Above this latter burial, part of a stele was discovered, featuring figural representations on both faces: on one side, a boat with a helmsman, rowers, and armed men; on the other, four registers of figures, with an inscription placed beneath the second register…
For Bologna region compare this find.
Asolo as well (another similar report)
“The excavations of the following week—from June 12 to 17—brought to light 17 tombs, only two of which were cremation burials. The remains in the first were housed in a crude dolium covered with slabs of sandstone; the second—a larger tomb, though one that had been previously disturbed—still preserved fragments of its funerary stele, and amidst the bones lay two small gold bullae with pendants—undoubtedly part of a rich piece of jewelry—as well as two silver fibulae, their terminals adorned with small gold filigree plates. The other tombs had been partially looted, as they yielded only fragments of figured pottery and pieces of aes rude. Two uncremated burials that had remained undisturbed yielded a few crude vessels, six bronze fibulae, and a small blue-and-white glass balsamarium shaped like a miniature amphora.
“In the excavations within the expropriated area of the Torto di S. Eusebio, several sarcophagi made of *peperino* stone were discovered in the layer of virgin soil; these contained pottery of Etruscan manufacture—some monochrome, others featuring figures and ornamentation of an archaic style, and still others simply incised—as well as eight fragments of an iron dagger hilt, around which a thin wire was spirally wound; clay necklace beads; spindle whorls; balsamaria made of glass paste; small bronze rings and fibulae; and several pieces of *aes rude*. In the upper layer of the soil…
“Near the hands of the corpse, which lay on the right-hand bench, was found a bronze mirror—handleless and devoid of engraved ornamentation; and near the head of the same body lay a hair ornament fashioned from a simple copper rod, tapered at both ends. The other corpse had, near its right hand, two small fragments of aes rude.” Same tomb has lots of vernice nera as grave goods.
Discussing Tombs in the vicinity of Verona:
“In both ossuaries and at the bottom of tombs, small pieces of aes are found—sometimes marked with one or two dots; it is not improbable that these represent rudimentary coins. In the third period, this type of aes rude assumes a somewhat more regular shape, as the pieces are detached from an almost cylindrical rod; the earlier examples, I believe, are fragments of sheet metal.”
In Tomb near Este (and more in same area)
Finalmente nel restauro dell’ antica strada territoriale detta della Petrara, da un luogo forse di antichi bagni, si ebbero avanzi di una stipe, consistenti in aes rude ed aes signatum , in monete di epoca posteriore, come assi , qualche semisse, qualche triente, quantunque tutto in pessiroa condizione, ed in frammenti di statuette di bronzo di lavoro ordinario.
Finally, during the restoration of the ancient local road known as the Petrara—at a site perhaps once home to ancient baths—remains of a votive deposit were uncovered. These consisted of aes rude and aes signatum, coins of a later era—such as asses, a few semisses, and some trientes (though all in very poor condition)—and fragments of bronze statuettes of ordinary workmanship.
“To the southeast of the city, in the Cannicella district—specifically on lands belonging to Cavaliere Francesco Pallucco—the engineer Mr. Riccardo Mancini commenced excavation work in early August of last year. From the very outset of the operations, it became evident that the terrain had been subjected to extensive devastation, as evidenced by the discovery of collapsed walls and structural remains lying at a shallow depth beneath the soil surface. Nevertheless, it was possible to establish that this area marked the extent of the ancient Volsinian necropolis, and that the tombs located there exhibited a structural design similar—and in some respects absolutely identical—to those unearthed at *Crocifisso del Tufo*, situated on the northern slope of the hill. Among these tombs, only two have thus far been discovered intact—and indeed, they are quite extraordinary.
…
“September 10–15: Bronze. A fibula; two pieces of aes grave—specifically, a triens featuring a dolphin and a thunderbolt, and a quadrans featuring a hand and barley grains; a gold-plated ring; and an engraved boss with radiating lines on its upper surface. — Terracotta. Fragments of painted pottery shards in various styles; over forty small vessels and plain cups of diverse shapes; a painted small vessel from a fine period (broken at the spout), with a diameter of 0.08 m; and a foot fragment from a plain painted cup, bearing traces of lettering. — Gems. A carnelian scarab depicting a griffin; and another, made of burnt stone, depicting a horseman upon his steed. — Glass. A fragment of a small amphora decorated with colored enamel. Also recovered were five stone amulets and a flint arrowhead; furthermore, along a tomb-lined path, numerous fragments of strigils, painted vases, and bucchero ware were found, along with the remains of a heavily oxidized mirror.”
Liv Mariah Yarrow 