2,000-Year-Old Artifacts Unearthed at Ancient Italian Thermal Springs

Archaeologists in Tuscany uncover bronze statues, coins, intact eggs, and other votive offerings preserved in sacred hot springs.

Excavations at the Bagno Grande sanctuary in San Casciano dei Bagni, Tuscany, have revealed a trove of artifacts dating back to the Etruscan and Roman periods.
Findings include bronze statues, thousands of coins, gold crowns, jewelry, and intact eggs, all preserved by the mineral-rich mud and water of the thermal springs.
The artifacts, believed to be votive offerings, were deposited in the sacred springs between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE for purposes such as healing and divine protection.
Highlights include a nearly 3-foot-long bronze snake statue, thought to represent the protective spirit Agathos Daimon, and a male statue cut in half with surgical precision.
The discoveries will be displayed in a new museum set to open in San Casciano dei Bagni in late 2026, following ongoing analysis and conservation efforts.