The Tomb of the Diver and the frescoed tombs in Paestum (southern Italy): New insights from a comparative archaeometric study

A comparative archaeometric study reveals that the Tomb of the Diver, a renowned artwork from Paestum (southern Italy), is not of Etruscan or Greek origin but instead represents an early expression of local elite culture in the region. The research employed non-destructive and destructive techniques to analyze pigments, mortars, and artistic execution methods across multiple frescoed tombs and temple decorations spanning two centuries. Findings indicate subtle technological shifts over time, providing key markers that cluster contemporary artistic productions. This study sheds new light on the Tomb of the Diver's historical context, resolving long-standing debates about its cultural attribution.

Alberghina, M. F., Germinario, C., Bartolozzi, G., Bracci, S., Grifa, C., Izzo, F., La Russa, M. F., Magrini, D., Massa, E., Mercurio, M., Nardo, V. M., Oddo, M. E., Pagnotta, S. M., Pelagotti, A., Ponterio, R. C., Ricci, P., Rovella, N., Ruffolo, S. A., Schiavone, S., et al. (2020). The Tomb of the Diver and the frescoed tombs in Paestum (southern Italy): New insights from a comparative archaeometric study. Plos One, 15(4), e0232375. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232375