Etruscans were a population settled in central Italy from IX and I century BCE whose origins are still debated. In our archaeogenetic project, we want to sample four individuals buried in a chamber tomb (VIII-VI century BCE) from an Etruscan necropolis in Monteriggioni (Tuscany), that was used from the Iron Age to the Roman period. We will extract DNA from teeth to obtain the whole genome sequences of the selected individuals. The genetic data will be used to reconstruct the kinship relations among the samples to shed light on the Etruscan society and funeral rites, also considering the historical and archaeological context. We will also compare our Etruscan archaeogenetic data to the published genomes from previous, coeval and following Italian, European and eastern Mediterranean groups to analyze their genetic similarities and differences. This bulk of information will be used to reconstruct a cross-section of the Etruscan world, helping our understanding of this fascinating ancient population.
To date, only a few genetic studies have been performed on Italian pre-Roman populations. In particular, only a small number of complete genomes of Etruscan individuals have been obtained and a systematic study on the Etruscan people exploiting these data has not been performed yet. This project has the potential to unveil the genetic origin of Etruscan adding an essential information to the history of the Italian peninsula. Moreover, with kinship analysis we will be able to link the arrangement of the graves and various artifacts found in them with the kinship of the individuals to whom they belong. This information will add a terrific boost in our knowledge regarding the social organization of the Etruscans.
It is also important to note that this project will represent a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the Etruscan people. In fact, the genetic analysis that we will perform will be deeply based on archaeological research already carried out on this necropolis. The interpretation of the results obtained will therefore take place in the light of these observations. We believe that this type of study is fundamental to fully understand the history and the society of ancient peoples and we hope that this work can represent a starting point for future research on pre-Roman Italy.