Excavations on the Island of Giglio have revealed a previously unknown 2,500-year-old Etruscan sanctuary overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The site consists of a rectangular stone temple and a series of sacrificial pits containing thousands of votive offerings. Unlike other sites that were looted in antiquity, this sanctuary appears to have been intentionally sealed with a layer of volcanic ash and clay, preserving its contents in pristine condition.
Among the most remarkable finds are a set of gilded bronze offering plates inscribed with dedications to a lost maritime deity. These inscriptions are providing linguists with new clues to the Etruscan language, which remains one of the great mysteries of the ancient Mediterranean. The presence of high-quality Greek pottery alongside local metalwork suggests the island was a vibrant cosmopolitan center of ritual and trade.