La Tombe du Navire de Tarquinia et le navire étrusque de commerce

The Tomb of the Ship in Tarquinia, and the Etruscan cargo ship

Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures

Abstract

The discovery, due to the use of highly elaborate prospection methods, of a decorated etruscan tomb showing, nearly 25 centuries ago, a large cargo ship, brings valuable information on tyrrhenian navy at the time of its apogee and just after.

This unique picture, compared to those of ships of neighbour commercial countries, to wreckages and to their freights, to ancient texts, allows us to improve our knowledge of etruscan maritime trade and of ships which ensured it, in a geographical context where, for a long time, "mare nostrum" was the most efficient link.