The museum, housed in the Tower of Sant’Erasno, displays the materials obtained from the excavation campaigns carried out in the territory of Capua in the second half of the 20th century. In the ten rooms open to the public, the findings from the 10th to the 1st century BC are exhibited in chronological order and taking into account the context of the excavation.
The exhibition itinerary starts from the findings of the Bronze Age, between the 16th and 14th centuries, coming from the necropolis south of the Agnema in the locality of Strepparo. The Iron Age follows with grave goods between the 9th and 7th centuries BC and then items of Etruscan origin. The local produced tablewares show characteristic shapes or imitates import patterns. The eastern productions are influenced by the Greek and, due to the experience of Capua, also by the Etruscans. Of particular interest are the bronzes, including the laconic crater and the cauldron with movable handles. Then there are the findings of local production of the 6th century, found in a kiln that produced tiles. Next are Architectural ceramics and votive statuettes. The seventh room houses imported objects from the 6th and 5th centuries, including Attic vases with black and red figures with mythological representations, while the findings of the local area have black figure decorations or non figured motifs. The objects also tell of the transition from Etruscan to Samnite dominion at the end of the 5th century, when weapons appear in the men's tombs and gold jewels appear in those of women. There is also a reconstruction of a chamber tomb. Then the painted box tombs of the 4th century and the red-figure vases of Cumana production. In the last room, the findings of the sanctuaries around Capua are presented, which are the subject of the most recent archaeological research.
Near the Archaeological Museum it’s possible to visit a Mithraeum, which is a temple dedicated to the god Mithras, one of the rarest and most important examples of Mithraic sanctuaries with pictorial decorations. The main room with barrel vault, earthenware floor and pieces of marble. Above the altar at the back of the room, there is a fresco depicting Mithras killing the bull. All the walls are finely frescoed with mythological scenes or scenes related to initiatory cults.
