Caere

History

The earliest evidence of settlement of the site comes from finds of urns at two areas (Cava della Pozzolana and Sorbo) from the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Archaeology has revealed the presence of stable economic activity in the area, with housing and related Etruscan necropolis settlements.

Trade between the Greeks and Etruscans became increasingly common in the middle of the 8th century BC, with standardised urns and pottery common in graves of the time. The town became the main Etruscan trading centre during the 7th century BC, and trade increased with other Greek colonies in Southern Italy and Sicily, and with the Corinthians. Locally manufactured products began to imitate imported Greek pottery, especially after the immigration of Greek artists into Etruria.

The oldest examples of Bucchero ceramics come from Caere and it can be assumed that these typical Etruscan ceramics were developed here or produced at least for the first time in large scale.

The early prosperity of the city is demonstrated by graves from the Orientalizing Period, from around 700 BC, which often contain eastern imports and rich gold finds; the Regolini-Galassi tomb is especially notable for its fine gold offerings. From 530 to 500 BC a generation of Greek artists was active in the city, producing colour-painted hydrias.

Burials of the time became increasingly grand, with jewellery and other products of particularly fine manufacture, illustrating the continuing good fortunes of the city. At the height of its prosperity in the 6th century BC, the people of Caere (with the Carthaginians) emerged marginally victorious from clashes with the Phocaean Greeks.

Caere had a good reputation among the Greeks for its values and sense of justice, since it abstained from piracy. It was one of only two Etruscan cities to erect its own treasury at Delphi, the "Agillei Treasury" dedicated to Pythian Apollo. This was generally not allowed to non-Greeks, and the legends regarding earlier Greek colonization in the wider area of Caere and Rome seem to have played an important role in allowing what was, from a political point of view, a bold act. Delphi was also a centre of politics and intrigue for the whole Eastern Mediterranean and Near East area. …

Ancient bishopric

Saint Adeodatus participated as bishop of this episcopal see, in a synod at Rome called by Pope Symmachus in 499, shortly before the seat of the bishopric was moved, because of malaria, from Caere Vetus (today's Cerveteri) to the new settlement of Caere Nova (today's Ceri). The territory of the Diocese of Caere became part of the Diocese of Porto around the 11th century.

No longer a residential bishopric, Caere is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.

Archaeological site

During the period 700-300 BC the inhabitants constructed an impressive necropolis known today as Banditaccia, which is still not fully excavated but has already yielded the "Sarcophagus of the Spouses".

Since 2012, Queen's University at Kingston has been leading archaeology at the urban centre known as Vigna Marini.