Etruscan Pyramid of Bomarzo, Italy

Historic Mysteries ^ | prior to March 12, 2019 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Bomarzo is an obscure little town in the Viterbo province of Lazio, Italy. The area of Bomarzo was once a part of the larger region of Etruria, which the mysterious Etruscans dominated... they built a curious structure out of the volcanic rock in a thickly wooded area of Bomarzo in a nearby valley. Today, people call it the Etruscan Pyramid of Bomarzo. Steep steps, a number of platforms, rectangular cubicles, and channels running at odd angles decorate the front wall... The Etruscan Pyramid at Bomarzo is a relatively new discovery. Two local archaeologists named Giovanni Lamoratta and Giuseppe Maiorano stumbled across it in the spring of 1991. But news of its discovery received little fanfare and it remained unknown to the world. Then in 2008, Salvatore Fosci, a local resident of Bomarzo with a passion for local history, decided he would uncover the Etruscan pyramid. When Fosci’s grandfather served as a sort of custodian of these woods, they called it Sasso del Predicatore ("Stone of the Preacher") or simply the "Stone With Steps." The stories his grandfather and father told about the stone inspired Salvatore to find it and clear away the roots and vegetation. In this way, he would make that amazing part of their history accessible to the world...

Etruscan builders carved the mysterious megalith from an enormous grey rock of volcanic tuff or "peperino." It measures about 53 feet long, 24 feet at its widest point, and 30 feet tall. Three steep staircases cover the front face. There are 20 steps on the lower staircase, which lead to two minor altars. The two other staircases begin higher on the structure and have nine and ten steps respectively. These lead to the main altar on the rock summit.

[Fred Nerks]

You're right of course, thanks:

Etruscans dominated from around 700 BCE to 400 BCE. During that time, they built a curious structure out of the volcanic rock in a thickly wooded area of Bomarzo in a nearby valley.

[SunkenCiv]

The Inca used the stones themselves to grind the stones, hence the tight fit. It doesn't seem like an efficient use of labor, though. :^)