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Conservation issues at Pompeii and Herculaneum
Dr Louise Zarmati, University of Western Sydney
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Part 1: Recovery
• Rebuilding & Reconstruction
• Restoration and Repair Conservation.
Part 2: Examples
Part 3: Sample exam question
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Part 1: Processes
1. Recovery
2. Rebuilding and Reconstruction
3. Restoration and Repair
4. Conservation
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1. Recovery
What is ‘Recovery’?
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Different processes of ‘excavation’
Changed over time
From tunnelling, to digging to systematic excavation
200 years
Different methods at Pompeii and Herculaneum
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Giuseppe Fiorelli Director, 1863-67
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2. Rebuilding & Reconstruction
What is ‘Rebuilding’?
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Rebuilding - more meaningful to visitors
Began with Spinazzola –Via dell’Abbondanza
Continued by Maiuri
Herculaneum – Fascist period ‘New Excavations’
Pompeii – Villa of the Mysteries
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Amedeo Maiuri, Director 1924-61
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Houses excavated and rebuilt during Fascist period
• House of the Menander
• House of the Surgeon
• Villa of the Mysteries
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Herculaneum
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Plundering, 1782
Tunnels
‘New Excavations’ from 1927
‘Open-air museum’
Huge funds from Mussolini’s Fascist government
50% rebuilt
Maiuri influenced by Knossos?
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House of the Telephus Relief
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3. Restoration
What is ‘Restoration’?
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‘The act of returning something to its former condition’.
Process of mending, fixing or repairing buildings that have deteriorated or collapsed.
Can apply to buildings that had been recovered and rebuilt.
Restoring houses that had been rebuilt in 1930s .
Schola Armaturarum*
(aka ‘House of the Gladiators’)
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4. Conservation
What is ‘Conservation’?
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Prevention of decay, waste, or loss; preservation
Stopping or slowing down process of deterioration.
Herculaneum
Conservation nightmare, 2000
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Herculaneum Conservation Project
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Joint project between Soprintendenza, British School in Rome and Packard Humanities Institute
Problems:
How to conserve?
What to conserve first?
How to present to the public?
Villa of the Papyri - to dig or not to dig?
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Example: Villa of the Mysteries
1. 1909 – Recovery
2. 1929 – Recovery, Rebuild, Restore
3. 2014 – Conservation
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Villa of the Mysteries, Conservation, 2014
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See article in Archaeology Magazine, March/April 2014
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Summary
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1910 – 24 – Spinazzola - Via dell’ Abbondanza – Recover, Rebuild, Reconstruct
1924 – 61- Maiuri – interpret for the public - Recover, Rebuild, Reconstruct
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1960s – ‘80s – Restore, Repair & Conserve
2000s – Restore, Repair & Conserve
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Using what you have learnt today... to practise an HSC examination response.
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Investigating, reconstructing and preserving the past
changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists to our
understanding of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
changing interpretations: impact of new research and technologies.
issues of conservation and reconstruction: Italian and international contributions and
responsibilities; impact of tourism.
ethical issues: study and display of human remains.
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Sample Question (10 marks)
With reference to Source D and your own knowledge, explain how reconstruction and tourism in the
twentieth century have led to conservation problems today at Pompeii and Herculaneum.