The article delves into the archaeological excavations conducted by Duchess Teresa Caetani in the first half of the 19th century, in the area of Cerveteri. Despite R. Mengarelli negative judgmente and his perception that her work had caused “irreparable damage” to the “archaeological science”, recent discoveries of archival documents shed new light on her activity, allowing us to re-evaluate the balance sheet of this particular parenthesis in the history of archaeological research. Duchess Caetani undertook excavations in various sites in approximately five years (1837-1842) and her well-organized and extensive enterprise received admiration from prominent antiquarians of the time, like G. Micali, W. Abeken, Stendhal, and E. Hamilton-Gray. The rediscovery of these excavations has therefore offered valuable insights into the functioning and methods of archaeological excavation in the early phases of archaeological exploration in Etruria. The enterprise involved a complex team of individuals with specific skills, from the Duchess’ collaborators to the workers, among whom unexpected figures of “professional excavators”, hired based on their technical expertise, emerged. The study then focuses on one of Duchess Caetani’s lesser-known excavations, which took place within the plateau of the city of Cerveteri. It seeks to clarify the nature and extent of her work, examining the existing evidence and speculating about the locations of her activities. This includes the identification of archaeological artifacts and architectural fragments found during her excavations end now held in European museum collections. In conclusion, while the historical record remains incomplete and the damage to the archaeological record is undeniable, this research attempts to demonstrate the importance of re-evaluating and documenting past excavations, even those considered “damaging”, as they offer a unique window into the history of archaeology. The “irreparability” of the damage may therefore deserve a second look, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of Teresa Caetani’s place in the history of Etruscan archaeology
La “disastrosa attività della Duchessa di Sermoneta” nel territorio ceretano. Tra scoperte, dispersione e “gravissimo e irreparabile danno della scienza archeologica” / Grosso, Simone. - (2025), pp. 37-46. (Intervento presentato al convegno Cronache Ceretane. Ciclo di seminari sulla storia degli scavi e delle collezioni archeologiche disperse tenutosi a Viterbo, Cerveteri, ROma).
La “disastrosa attività della Duchessa di Sermoneta” nel territorio ceretano. Tra scoperte, dispersione e “gravissimo e irreparabile danno della scienza archeologica”
Simone Grosso
2025
Abstract
The article delves into the archaeological excavations conducted by Duchess Teresa Caetani in the first half of the 19th century, in the area of Cerveteri. Despite R. Mengarelli negative judgmente and his perception that her work had caused “irreparable damage” to the “archaeological science”, recent discoveries of archival documents shed new light on her activity, allowing us to re-evaluate the balance sheet of this particular parenthesis in the history of archaeological research. Duchess Caetani undertook excavations in various sites in approximately five years (1837-1842) and her well-organized and extensive enterprise received admiration from prominent antiquarians of the time, like G. Micali, W. Abeken, Stendhal, and E. Hamilton-Gray. The rediscovery of these excavations has therefore offered valuable insights into the functioning and methods of archaeological excavation in the early phases of archaeological exploration in Etruria. The enterprise involved a complex team of individuals with specific skills, from the Duchess’ collaborators to the workers, among whom unexpected figures of “professional excavators”, hired based on their technical expertise, emerged. The study then focuses on one of Duchess Caetani’s lesser-known excavations, which took place within the plateau of the city of Cerveteri. It seeks to clarify the nature and extent of her work, examining the existing evidence and speculating about the locations of her activities. This includes the identification of archaeological artifacts and architectural fragments found during her excavations end now held in European museum collections. In conclusion, while the historical record remains incomplete and the damage to the archaeological record is undeniable, this research attempts to demonstrate the importance of re-evaluating and documenting past excavations, even those considered “damaging”, as they offer a unique window into the history of archaeology. The “irreparability” of the damage may therefore deserve a second look, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of Teresa Caetani’s place in the history of Etruscan archaeologyI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
