2021 was an exciting ‘archeological year’ in Italy, with many finds that helped shed light on the country’s ancient history. We have selected a few that particularly stood out, from a statue menhir found in Tuscany to an ancient Roman boundary stone, to the never-ending discoveries that continue to amaze archaeologists at Pompeii, where excavation work is ongoing;

at Pompeii's overshadowed neighbor, Herculaneum, two-and-a-half year excavations at the ancient beach have revealed the remains of a man trying to escape the destructive Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. Read on for the most significant archaeological discoveries of 2021 in Italy.