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A large sandstone slab dating back to the 6th century BC could hold clues about the religious beliefs of ancient Etruscans, if only archaeologists could read it.

Uncovered from an Etruscan temple in Tuscany after being buried for over 2,500 years, researchers believe the stone holds an important religious text. The 500-pound stele (the term that archaeologists use for such slabs) measures four feet tall by two feet wide and holds roughly 70 letters and punctuation marks.

Because of the rarity of Etruscan artifacts, not much is known about the Etruscan language. The little knowledge on the ancient language is limited to specific language written on funerary objects, which make up the majority of Etruscan discoveries. In translating the large stele, archaeologists will establish a broader understanding of Etruscan letters and words.

鈥淲e hope to ,鈥� archaeologist Gregory Warden, co-director and principle investigator of the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project and professor at Franklin University Switzerland, said in a press release. 鈥淟ong inscriptions are rare, especially one this long, so there will be new words that we have never seen before, since it is not a funerary text.鈥�

Archaeologists also say the artifact鈥檚 language could tell them more about Etruscan religion, and in turn more about the Romans, who were influenced by the Etruscan way of life.听

鈥淭his is probably going to be a sacred text, and will be remarkable for telling us about the early belief system of a lost culture that is fundamental to western traditions,鈥� added Dr. Warden.听

鈥淚nscriptions of more than a few words, on permanent materials, are rare for the Etruscans, who tended to use perishable media like linen cloth books or wax tablets,鈥� added Etruscan scholar Jean MacIntosh Turfa with the University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia. 鈥淭his stone stele is evidence of a permanent religious cult with monumental dedications, at least as early as the Late Archaic Period, from about 525 to 480 BCE.鈥澛�

The stone slab is not only evidence of a permanent Etruscan religion, but it could also give some insight into the religion itself.听

鈥淲e know how Etruscan grammar works, what鈥檚 a verb, what鈥檚 an object, some of the words,鈥� says Warden in the release. 鈥淏ut we hope this will reveal the name of the god or goddess that is worshiped at this site.鈥澛�

The majority of Etruscan artifacts have been recovered from grave sites, allowing archaeologists to understand a great deal about how Etruscans handled death but not much else.听

鈥淪o any text, especially a longer one, is an exciting addition to our knowledge,鈥� archaeologist Ingrid Edlund-Berry, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, said in the release. 鈥淚t is very interesting that the stele was found within the walls of the buildings at the site, thus suggesting that it was re-used, and that it represents an early phase at the site.鈥澛�

And not only are past artifacts difficult for archeologists to decode, but they are also extremely rare. The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology鈥檚 Etruscan collection is 鈥渁mong the finest in the United States,鈥� encompassing the full range of the Etruscan civilization from 8th聽century BC to 1st聽century BC. Yet the Penn Museum has less than ten examples of the Etruscan language.听

鈥淪ix rare Etruscan inscriptions are on display in this gallery, with an explanation of the importance of the Etruscan language for understanding who these people were and where they came from,鈥� explains .听

While historians and archaeologists are interested in the Etruscan civilization for its own merit, they also focus on Etruscans to better understand their successors, the Romans.听

Explains Southern Methodist University鈥檚 press release: 鈥淭he Etruscan civilization once ruled Rome and influenced Romans on everything from religion to government to art to architecture.鈥�