An intact ceremonial chariot unearthed at the Pompeii archaeological site is being hailed as the first artifact of its kind ever found in Italy, a unique find - which has no parallel in Italy thus far - in an excellent state of preservation

a reconstruction makes it so much easier to look at 

The chariot was meticulously uncovered since its discovery on Jan. 7, 2021 inside the portico of a stable outside the walls of the main settlement.

"This new find is even more special for being an ornamental (rather than utilitarian) vehicle found not disassembled in a burial or depicted through artistic convention on a relief, but as it was on the day of the eruption," Eric Poehler, a Roman archaeologist and Pompeii specialist who wrote a book on the city's ancient traffic systems.

It's believed the chariot was likely used for celebrations and parades and may have also carried new brides to their homes. The treasure was nearly lost to looters, who had dug more than 260 feet of tunnels in and around the site. But it was discovered thanks to the thieves after police came across the illegal tunnels in 2017.

https://x.com/archeohistories/status/1985427484729622862

https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2021/03/01/ancient-chariot-pompeii-long-orig-mrg.cnn

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56222992