A necropolis dating to the fifth century BC has been unearthed in the southern region of Calabria, the region's president said on Friday.
The burial ground, which includes six tombs containing skeletons as well as grave artefacts such as amphorae, came to light as builders were working on a site slated for the construction of new regional government offices in the suburbs of Catanzaro.
''This is probably the greatest archaeological discovery in central Calabria in the last 30 years,'' said Calabria President Agazio Loiero.
Loiero noted that the find was in a zone thought to have stretched between Terina and Skilletion, two ancient cities of Magna Graecia, the name given to the Greek colonies once scattered across southern Italy.
Archaeologists have moved in to explore the burial ground and may DNA-test the skeletons inside the tombs, Loiero said.
Work on the part of the new regional government offices where the necropolis was discovered has been halted.
''I don't know if I should put this find down to my good or bad luck,'' the president said.
