Archaeological Museum of Chiavari
Museum | Chiavari | Liguria | Italy
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Chiavari is located in the historic center of the city and is housed on the ground floor of the Palazzo Rocca. It presents an extensive collection of archaeological finds that offer a deep insight into the history of the region.
One outstanding exhibit of the museum is the monumental necropolis from the early Iron Age, discovered in the 1950s in Corso Millo. This necropolis, one of the most significant of its kind in Italy, consists of 126 so-called "cassette tombs" containing both single and double burials. The burials are equipped with numerous grave goods differentiated by gender and social status of the deceased. Women's offerings include elaborately decorated jewelry and clothing accessories made of bronze, gold, and silver, such as bracelets, rings, brooches, earrings, belts, and studs. Men's offerings mainly consist of iron weapons, including spears, daggers, and knives. Often, pots, glasses, and cups were also found in the tombs, presumably used during burial rituals. These finds indicate a wealthy community that was active in both lake and land trade.
Another remarkable object is an Etruscan wine amphora from the 5th century BC, recovered from a shipwreck in the Ligurian Sea. This artifact demonstrates the region's trade relations with the Etruscans and other Mediterranean cultures.
The museum's exhibition covers various periods, starting from prehistory and the Bronze Age, through the early Iron Age to the Roman and medieval times. In addition to the archaeological finds, the museum houses a specialized library with over 3,000 volumes and journals, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Chiavari thus provides a comprehensive overview of the region's archaeological history and is a significant cultural attraction in Liguria.
