This princely tomb, unlike other Tarquinian large mounds, contains two aligned rooms and a very large entrance. Both the funerary chambers, which have a rectangular and elongated plan, were constructed entirely of limestone and tuff blocks arranged in ordered rows. The first room has a covering with an ogival profile, formed by progressively projecting blocks; instead in the second one the pseudo-vault is always made with projecting blocks, but here they maintain a "steps" profile and they save a slit at the top. This sort of negative columen is marked by two stone beams set widthways at one third and two thirds of the length, placed to support the slabs closing the vault.

SOn the right side of the first chamber two benches were found, built with moulded tuff slabs supported by little shaped pillars. They were perhaps destined to the descendants of the tomb's founder to which was probably reserved the last room.
Outside you can see, in the very large entrance, the "piazzaletto" conformation, typical of Tarquinia. Remarkable is the end façade, entirely built with well squared blocks in a fine isodomic technique.
The mound dates at the first half of the 7th century BC, probably at the beginning of the Middle Orientalizing period.

The mound is located in a remote position, about 3 km from the old city, but near it were found many tombs of the Orientalizing and Archaic periods, of the chest and pit type. These burials, in addition to the dwelling remained not yet explored, suggest the existence in the area of a little village, in which probably lived a noble Tarquinian group. One or more families of high rank and urban origins in this case would have preferred to reside directly on their land possession, situated on the road linking Tarquinia to the towns of inland Etruria. The mound would have been a sign, visible also from a great distance, of the power and wealth of a family clan, based on land ownership and also on the trade control between Tarquinia and the inland.

(M. Campagna)

 Itinerary
From Tarquinia, follow the Aurelia-bis towards Viterbo for 8 km, then turn left on the road of the Turchina locality. Continue for about 2 km, turning right at the fork you will encounter along the route. You can leave your car at a wide open area in the Mediterranean scrub and walk along the path that on the right goes up to the Poggio del Forno (the mound stands inside an accessible enclosure).