QUINTO FIORENTINO

   This locality is where a series of early tombs are placed in the Arno Valley. The Palastreto complex comprises a cippus and tombs (including pozzetto tombs) dating from the eighth to the sixth century BC. The La Montagnola tomb is a rich Orientalizing (late seventh century to early sixth century BC) tholos tomb, where a certain amount of material was found intact (ivories, bucchero, ostrich shells, bronze, glass). The La Mula tholos tomb was discovered in 1481 and was most probably rich and Orientalizing in its time, before it was robbed in ancient times. These tombs are broadly contemporary to those at Atimino and Comeana, which are further downstream on the Arno River, and are representive of the more distributed power structures at the limits of Etruria, outside the direct control of major cities.

   See also TRADE.