San Giovanni in Valle
The monumental tombs of the Longobard noblemen
As reported by Lorenzo del Torre, in 1751, after some work carried out in the church due to damage to the choir by lightning, an exceptional find was made, right in front of the steps leading up to the altar. Some Longobard tombs with rich fittings were found under the floor. There were three tombs with a sarcophagus in underground masonry chambers. Numerous items of the grave goods have been lost. It is said that they included many gold crosses. Besides the drawing of some of these objects in a print of the period, as testimony to the find there remain a gold cross with human figures and a disc depicting a deer, also in gold, which can now be seen in the National Archaeological Museum. The type of burials and the rich fittings allow comparison with the so-called tomb of the Duke Gisulf which came to light in Piazza Paolo Diacono, also consisting of a sarcophagus placed in a masonry tomb. They are clearly both cases of burials of high-ranking members of the Longobard nobility in Cividale. The particular features of the tombs in the church of San Giovanni would appear to be well suited to their location within the place of worship.
It seems very unlikely that they were placed in a burial area predating the church.