A remarkable archaeological discovery is shedding new light on cultural exchange between ancient Greece and Etruria. The Italian Culture Ministry has unveiled a marble head of a young woman - a Kore - found in the ancient Etruscan city of Vulci. Carved from Greek marble and dated to the early fifth century BCE, the sculpture likely originated from an Attic workshop, making it an exceptionally rare find in Italy.
The head was uncovered near a monumental temple identified in 2021 through the “Vulci Cityscape” project, a collaboration between the universities of Freiburg and Mainz, the local heritage authority, and the Vulci Foundation. The project aims to reconstruct the city’s urban development using a multidisciplinary approach.
The Kore is now undergoing restoration and analysis at the Central Institute for Restoration in Rome, where experts are studying its materials, carving techniques, and original pigments. Officials from the Culture Ministry highlight the find as an opportunity to deepen public awareness of Vulci’s heritage and to better understand the role of Greek artists in Etruria.