columbarium

A columbarium, in Maremma, is a Roman remnant that you will often come across at archaeological sites, such as at Roselle or Vetulonia. Forget modern funerary urns: here, we are talking about small niches carved into rock or walls, intended to hold the cinerary urns of the deceased. It is not just a pile of stones, it is a direct testimony to Roman funerary practices, their social organization and their relationship with death. By observing them, you get a tangible glimpse of a concrete part of local history, far from dusty museums. It is a key element for understanding how the inhabitants of this land lived – and died – two thousand years ago.