Italian archaeologists have unearthed an ancient underground burial tomb with unique Greek-style decorations near the small village of Arpinova in Puglia.
Dating back to the fourth or fifth century BC, the tomb is adorned with red and black frescoes never seen before in graves uncovered on Italian soil.
Similar decorations are only found inside ancient graves belonging to noble families around Thessaloniki in northern Greece, experts say.
Archaeologists stepped in to investigate the tomb after receiving a tip-off from local police that grave robbers in the necropolis-rich countryside had already uncovered it.
Only a few vases remained inside the tomb by the time experts arrived, and the thieves are thought to have made off with most of its contents.
But further excavations by the archaeologists revealed a 'dromos', or corridor leading to the lower part of the tomb, where they uncovered a human skull and a section of rib cage.
''Unfortunately it isn't possible to establish with certainty how many people were buried because the tomb has been plundered,'' said Marisa Corrente, Foggia's culture chief.
The grave, which is in a private vineyard, will be filled in once investigations are complete.
