Cocci analyzes the phenomenon of the tombaroli in Cerveteri, the predators of Etruscan archaeology active in the Alto Lazio region since the 1960s. While existing literature on archaeological looting, particularly in Italy, has been predominantly developed from archaeological and criminological perspectives, this project departs from conventional approaches. Instead, it aims to explore the cultural roots and adaptive spirit of a community involved in the phenomenon.
Through a multidisciplinary catalog of sources and interviews with tombaroli, writers, poets, artisans of Etruscan ceramics, and local residents, the study seeks to provide a narrative accessible to a general audience. It alternates analytical approaches with more emotive storytelling, enriched by dialect and vernacular tradition, to present a comprehensive picture of the sociocultural context in which archaeological looting unfolds.
