Bronze Anatomical Cuirass

This is a bivalve anatomical cuirass in bronze, reproducing the stylized musculature of the male body, including pectorals, abdominal muscles, and back, rendered with raised and incised details. The front and back halves are joined at the sides and shoulders by metal hinges and buckles, which allowed the armor to be adjusted to the warrior’s body. These fastening elements are decorated with small plaques bearing a palmette in relief and secured with chains. The edges are reinforced by an iron bar, over which a bronze sheet is folded, providing additional strength and protection.

In 1978, during agricultural work in the locality of Salto, near Cariati, a monumental chamber tomb built of sandstone blocks was discovered and dated to around 330 BC. The burial, attributed to a warrior, is located on the summit of a small hill overlooking the sea and the coastal plain. The structure is rectangular in shape, covered with large stone slabs and originally plastered and painted on the interior. The grave goods found within stand out for their richness and exceptional state of preservation. Beside the deceased were discovered a complete bronze armor set, consisting of an anatomical cuirass, helmet, and belts, as well as spears, a curved iron sword, and several ceramic vessels, including an intact Apulian amphora, a decorated jug, and a bell-shaped krater.

The armor, the central element of the assemblage, attests to the high social status of the deceased and represents one of the few known examples of military equipment belonging to a member of the Brettian elite. The quality of craftsmanship and the variety of associated objects make this burial one of the most significant testimonies to the material culture of the Italic people known as the Brettii, renowned in antiquity as warriors and pastoralists.