A Greek mosaic, an Etruscan temple and lead ingots: Extraordinary discoveries in Europe this week

It’s been a bumper week for archaeological discoveries in Europe, with a Greek mosaic and an Etruscan temple being unearthed and new research released on ingots found in Spain. 

Each finding has shed light on different aspects of ancient civilisations and their culture. Here’s why they are significant. 

Archaeologists in the Italian region of Tuscany have unearthed a 2700-year-old Etruscan temple at the Sasso Pinzuto necropolis.

The cult building is one of the largest of its kind measuring 6.2 by 7.1 metres. 

The excavation was carried out by the Centre for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES) in collaboration with the University of Naples Federico II. 

The team found tuffaceous opus quadratum foundations (an ancient Roman construction technique using squared blocks of stone) of a rectangular structure, known as an oikos meaning house of the deity. 

The discovery will shed light on funerary cults in Tuscania during the Archaic period. Nearby, burial mounds and trenches for cult activities were also found. 

"In all likelihood, the Sasso Pinzuto oikos will become a reference for funerary cults in Archaic Etruscan necropolis," said Professor Alessandro Naso of the University of Naples.

The Sasso Pinzuto site has been under excavation since the mid-19th century and is home to over 120 chamber tombs dating from as early as the 7th century BC. 

On the Greek island of Evia, archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic floor which was stumbled upon during works to install water pipelines. 

The modern town of Eretria is home to the remains of an ancient Greek city dating from the middle of the first millennium BC. 

The remarkable artwork depicts two naked satyrs. The figures are half human, half animal, with goat or horse-like