An Analysis of the Cremated Human Remains in a Terracotta Cinerary Urn of the Third-Second Century BCE from Chiusi, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

Abstract

A small quantity of burned human remains was found in a Hellenistic terracotta cinerary urn from Chiusi now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This mold-made, painted ceramic chest decorated with a battle scene and its lid in the form of a reclining male figure were purchased from a collection known to be rich in materials recovered from Chiusi and its environs. Across the upper edge of the chest is the name of the deceased, inscribed in red pigment. In general, remains found in cinerary containers are assumed to belong to the individuals for whom the object was originally purchased, and a “blind” evaluation of the bones in this container was undertaken as part of the overall study of this object. Comparing the results of the skeletal study with the information from the inscription and lid form offers insights regarding the use of biological studies in augmenting our understanding of the ways in which cinerary containers were used and, by extension, how mortuary practices formed an important part of the Etruscan culture.