Ok, last year was a bit of a non event with regards to the blog and I left it behind with little work on it. This year I hope to post far more about the upcoming field season.
Good news; last Friday I received back the permission and authorisation to be able to access the properties we need to begin work on our own project and research in the Houses of Julius Polybius and Chaste Lovers. I am looking forward to working with the very smart and lovely Adina who is working with me on our ideas about this area of the ancient city.
Stay tuned for more.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Work begins in Pompeii
A BBC news report about the beginning of the EU funded conservation wor in a 'crumbling Pompeii".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21363523
Take a look.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21363523
Take a look.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Large Scale Restoration Project and Maintenance begins in Pompeii
From the Italian papers today:
Al momento, si è in attesa dell’inizio dell’incontro con la stampa. Stando alle prime dichiarazioni rilasciate all’emittente “Al Jazeera”, il commissario Han si è detto “fiducioso affinché questi lavori si svolgano nel rispetto delle normative” e che “si vigilerà attentamente contro il rischio di infiltrazioni della criminalità”.
Bisogna ricordare che poche ore prima dell’apertura dei cantieri, sugli Scavi si è abbattuta una bufera giudiziaria che ha portato all’esecuzione di misure cautelari nei confronti di responsabili di lavori effettuati negli scorsi anni.
DS
Scavi di Pompei, al via i lavori di risanamento
6 febbraio 2013 - Dario Sautto
In corso presso gli Scavi di Pompei la visita dei ministri Cancellieri, Ornaghi e Barca e del commissario europeo ai fondi regionali Johannes Han. Oggi, infatti, si inaugurano i lavori volti a risanare gli scavi archeologici, grazie allo stanziamento di oltre 40 milioni di euro da parte della commissione europea.Al momento, si è in attesa dell’inizio dell’incontro con la stampa. Stando alle prime dichiarazioni rilasciate all’emittente “Al Jazeera”, il commissario Han si è detto “fiducioso affinché questi lavori si svolgano nel rispetto delle normative” e che “si vigilerà attentamente contro il rischio di infiltrazioni della criminalità”.
Bisogna ricordare che poche ore prima dell’apertura dei cantieri, sugli Scavi si è abbattuta una bufera giudiziaria che ha portato all’esecuzione di misure cautelari nei confronti di responsabili di lavori effettuati negli scorsi anni.
DS
Pompeii returns in the papers
I have been really slack with the blogsite in the last year or so but hopefully with some reorganising of commitments and clearing time I will make a better effort of keeping this blog up to date and useful for teachers and students as well as being interesting for the others that come by and take a look.
Well, no better way than getting back into the swing of things with Pompeii in the news in the past few days. Work is set to commence this week on one of the most ambitious restoration and maintenance efforts in Pompeii in decades. Thanks to 105 million Euros of European funding. On the flip side, the 2010 construction work in Pompeii on the Large Theatre as well as all the spending on Pompei Viva has come back to bite the former special commissioner Marcelo Fiori as he and a handful of others are either arrested or indicted on charges of misapprpriation of funds and corruption....I'll post some of the reports here.
From Reuters
ROME (Reuters) - Italian police arrested a former restorer of the ancient city of Pompeii on corruption charges on Tuesday and are investigating five others, including the former special commissioner appointed to deal with the increasing degradation of the historic site.
Italy declared a state of emergency in 2008 at Pompeii after archaeologists and art historians complained about the poor upkeep of the crumbling site, pointing to mismanagement and lack of investment.
A special commissioner, Marcello Fiori, was also appointed for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ancient Roman city which was buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD 79.
But investigators say Fiori and the director of restoration at the time, Luigi D'Amora, awarded irregular contracts to the restoration services company Caccavo and paid inflated prices for its work.
Collapsed walls and columns since 2008 have renewed concerns about the condition of the site.
Prosecutors say the officials broke the terms of the state of emergency, overspent on various restoration projects and agreed to non-essential work on Pompeii, one of Italy's most popular attractions, visited by some 2.5 million tourists each year.
They have accused Fiori of abuse of office while D'Amora is being investigated for fraud.
Police have put Caccavo official Annamaria Caccavo under house arrest and are investigating her for aiding abuse of office, corrupting a public official and fraud.
The company has been banned from doing business with public administration and police have ordered the seizure of 810,788 euros worth of its assets. Three engineers are also being investigated for fraud and corruption.
The accused parties were not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting By Catherine Hornby and Massimilano Di Giorgio; Editing by Oliver Holmes)
5 February 2013 Last updated at 17:25 GMT
A former restorer of Pompeii is under house arrest on corruption charges, Italian police have said.
Five others, including the ex-special commissioner appointed to deal with the increasing degradation of the historic site, are also under investigation.
In 2008, the country declared a state of emergency at the site of the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD 79.
Annamaria Caccavo denies charges of corruption and fraud against her firm.
Ms Caccavo, whose Salerno-based firm carried out projects within the internal area of Pompeii at a total cost of some eight million euros (£6.9m), is currently under house arrest.
Her firm, Caccavo, has been blocked from taking public contracts and has had assets of some 810,000 euros (£702,000) seized.
Police investigators also say that the former special commissioner, nominated to oversee efforts to restore the ruins, Marcello Fiori as well as the then director of restoration, Luigi D'Amora, awarded irregular contracts to Ms Caccavo's firm, paying inflated prices.
They are also accused of breaking the terms of the state of emergency by overspending on various restoration projects and agreeing to non-essential work on the site, which draws some 2.5 million tourists each year.
Well, no better way than getting back into the swing of things with Pompeii in the news in the past few days. Work is set to commence this week on one of the most ambitious restoration and maintenance efforts in Pompeii in decades. Thanks to 105 million Euros of European funding. On the flip side, the 2010 construction work in Pompeii on the Large Theatre as well as all the spending on Pompei Viva has come back to bite the former special commissioner Marcelo Fiori as he and a handful of others are either arrested or indicted on charges of misapprpriation of funds and corruption....I'll post some of the reports here.
From Reuters
Italy police make arrest in Pompeii investigation
Tue, Feb 5 2013
ROME (Reuters) - Italian police arrested a former restorer of the ancient city of Pompeii on corruption charges on Tuesday and are investigating five others, including the former special commissioner appointed to deal with the increasing degradation of the historic site.
Italy declared a state of emergency in 2008 at Pompeii after archaeologists and art historians complained about the poor upkeep of the crumbling site, pointing to mismanagement and lack of investment.
A special commissioner, Marcello Fiori, was also appointed for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ancient Roman city which was buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD 79.
But investigators say Fiori and the director of restoration at the time, Luigi D'Amora, awarded irregular contracts to the restoration services company Caccavo and paid inflated prices for its work.
Collapsed walls and columns since 2008 have renewed concerns about the condition of the site.
Prosecutors say the officials broke the terms of the state of emergency, overspent on various restoration projects and agreed to non-essential work on Pompeii, one of Italy's most popular attractions, visited by some 2.5 million tourists each year.
They have accused Fiori of abuse of office while D'Amora is being investigated for fraud.
Police have put Caccavo official Annamaria Caccavo under house arrest and are investigating her for aiding abuse of office, corrupting a public official and fraud.
The company has been banned from doing business with public administration and police have ordered the seizure of 810,788 euros worth of its assets. Three engineers are also being investigated for fraud and corruption.
The accused parties were not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting By Catherine Hornby and Massimilano Di Giorgio; Editing by Oliver Holmes)
BBC News
5 February 2013 Last updated at 17:25 GMT
Pompeii restorer Annamaria Cavaco accused of fraud
The site of the ancient city of Pompeii is among the most popular tourist venues in Italy.A former restorer of Pompeii is under house arrest on corruption charges, Italian police have said.
Five others, including the ex-special commissioner appointed to deal with the increasing degradation of the historic site, are also under investigation.
In 2008, the country declared a state of emergency at the site of the ancient Roman city buried by an eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in AD 79.
Annamaria Caccavo denies charges of corruption and fraud against her firm.
Ms Caccavo, whose Salerno-based firm carried out projects within the internal area of Pompeii at a total cost of some eight million euros (£6.9m), is currently under house arrest.
Her firm, Caccavo, has been blocked from taking public contracts and has had assets of some 810,000 euros (£702,000) seized.
Police investigators also say that the former special commissioner, nominated to oversee efforts to restore the ruins, Marcello Fiori as well as the then director of restoration, Luigi D'Amora, awarded irregular contracts to Ms Caccavo's firm, paying inflated prices.
They are also accused of breaking the terms of the state of emergency by overspending on various restoration projects and agreeing to non-essential work on the site, which draws some 2.5 million tourists each year.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Collapse In Pompeii again renews criticisms
Europe News
Pompeii under threat as Italy struggles to maintain sites
By Katie Kahle Oct 26, 2011, 3:06 GMT
Rome - The partial crumbling of a wall in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii last week has caused serious embarrassment to the government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The damage came less than a year after the spectacular collapse of a gladiator house on the site.
International concern has been mounting that not enough is being done to protect Italy's historical sites, as the heavily indebted country struggles to cope with recession and the effects of the global economic crisis.
Culture Minister Giancarlo Galan tried to calm critics, promising that Pompeii - a UNESCO World Heritage site - will be the 'utmost priority' for his ministry.
Galan was appointed to the post after the previous minister, Sandro Bondi, resigned in the wake of the collapse of the gladiator house. Another wall also suffered damage.
Bondi initially survived a no-confidence vote over accusations of neglect and mismanagement of the site in January, but finally resigned in March.
Concern over Pompeii was revived on Friday, when a portion of its external walls near the Porta di Nola gate collapsed. Several cubic metres of rubble are now all that remains of the structure, according to media reports.
Experts attribute the collapse - as well as that of the gladiator house - to heavy and persistent autumnal rains.
Pompeii was buried by ash when the nearby Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted in AD 79. The disaster left the city superbly preserved until its accidental rediscovery in 1749.
However, a lack of state funds has left what is probably Italy's most important excavation site in danger of sustaining continuous damage, in a development that Berlusconi's critics see as symbolizing the decadence of the entire country.
The only way the 66-hectare site can be secured for the future is through constant high-level maintenance, experts agree.
A plan approved by the Culture Ministry has already been handed over to the relevant authorities - but safeguarding the site requires money.
Galan, who is set to visit Pompeii on Wednesday with European Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn, is looking for the EU to unblock funding for the site.
The Italian plan for Pompeii cannot be implemented without an injection of 105 million euros (145 million dollars), which have already been pledged by the EU, said Teresa Cinquantaquattro, superintendent of the site.
She also requested extra staff.
'There will be 20 to 25 people coming (to Pompeii) by the end of the year, with another 20 coming in 2012,' Galan's under-secretary Riccardo Villari promised recently.
Yet the government has made similar promises before - without keeping them. Italian media describe the absent staff at Pompeii as 'victims of the financial crisis.'
Italy has the second-highest level of national debt in the eurozone after Greece. Austerity measures worth 100 billion euros that were approved in the summer did not touch the culture budget, but it had already been slashed several times before.
Italia Nostra, a private organization that works to protect Italy's historical and cultural heritage, has described the current situation as dramatic.
The laboratory in Pompeii responsible for restoring the site's frescoes only has three conservators, Italia Nostra said. There is also a shortage of security personnel, leaving parts of Pompeii completely unprotected, it warned.
Villari is now raising the prospect of a 'Save Pompeii' campaign, which would seek sponsors for the site, as was done with the Colosseum in Rome.
Pompeii under threat as Italy struggles to maintain sites
By Katie Kahle Oct 26, 2011, 3:06 GMT
Rome - The partial crumbling of a wall in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii last week has caused serious embarrassment to the government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The damage came less than a year after the spectacular collapse of a gladiator house on the site.
International concern has been mounting that not enough is being done to protect Italy's historical sites, as the heavily indebted country struggles to cope with recession and the effects of the global economic crisis.
Culture Minister Giancarlo Galan tried to calm critics, promising that Pompeii - a UNESCO World Heritage site - will be the 'utmost priority' for his ministry.
Galan was appointed to the post after the previous minister, Sandro Bondi, resigned in the wake of the collapse of the gladiator house. Another wall also suffered damage.
Bondi initially survived a no-confidence vote over accusations of neglect and mismanagement of the site in January, but finally resigned in March.
Concern over Pompeii was revived on Friday, when a portion of its external walls near the Porta di Nola gate collapsed. Several cubic metres of rubble are now all that remains of the structure, according to media reports.
Experts attribute the collapse - as well as that of the gladiator house - to heavy and persistent autumnal rains.
Pompeii was buried by ash when the nearby Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted in AD 79. The disaster left the city superbly preserved until its accidental rediscovery in 1749.
However, a lack of state funds has left what is probably Italy's most important excavation site in danger of sustaining continuous damage, in a development that Berlusconi's critics see as symbolizing the decadence of the entire country.
The only way the 66-hectare site can be secured for the future is through constant high-level maintenance, experts agree.
A plan approved by the Culture Ministry has already been handed over to the relevant authorities - but safeguarding the site requires money.
Galan, who is set to visit Pompeii on Wednesday with European Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn, is looking for the EU to unblock funding for the site.
The Italian plan for Pompeii cannot be implemented without an injection of 105 million euros (145 million dollars), which have already been pledged by the EU, said Teresa Cinquantaquattro, superintendent of the site.
She also requested extra staff.
'There will be 20 to 25 people coming (to Pompeii) by the end of the year, with another 20 coming in 2012,' Galan's under-secretary Riccardo Villari promised recently.
Yet the government has made similar promises before - without keeping them. Italian media describe the absent staff at Pompeii as 'victims of the financial crisis.'
Italy has the second-highest level of national debt in the eurozone after Greece. Austerity measures worth 100 billion euros that were approved in the summer did not touch the culture budget, but it had already been slashed several times before.
Italia Nostra, a private organization that works to protect Italy's historical and cultural heritage, has described the current situation as dramatic.
The laboratory in Pompeii responsible for restoring the site's frescoes only has three conservators, Italia Nostra said. There is also a shortage of security personnel, leaving parts of Pompeii completely unprotected, it warned.
Villari is now raising the prospect of a 'Save Pompeii' campaign, which would seek sponsors for the site, as was done with the Colosseum in Rome.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
2011 Field Season Pompeii
Hi all,
well I am back at home in my favourite place, Pompeii. The 2011 field season has begun and we have now started working in the scavi. This is just a short note to let you know that we have started and I will post a longer blog and some activities for my students tonight when I get to download my first photos of the season.
Let me tell you that it is certainly a different start to last season. No cold snap or rain; 30 deg temperatures from the moment I hit the ground in Italy.The pool here at the hotel has already become welcome relief after a days work. We got our work permits with no issue or hold up this year which also has been great. Interestingly, I feel that the tourist numbers seem down. Been relatively quiet in the scavi so far this week.
Our work this season will see us in some exciting properties. The House of Julia Felix, Chaste Lovers and Julius Polibius, The House of the Surgeon and House of the Vestals. The team is also now two teams, one completing remediation full time.
This season I am leading a photo team for the Remediation team. More to come tonight.
well I am back at home in my favourite place, Pompeii. The 2011 field season has begun and we have now started working in the scavi. This is just a short note to let you know that we have started and I will post a longer blog and some activities for my students tonight when I get to download my first photos of the season.
Let me tell you that it is certainly a different start to last season. No cold snap or rain; 30 deg temperatures from the moment I hit the ground in Italy.The pool here at the hotel has already become welcome relief after a days work. We got our work permits with no issue or hold up this year which also has been great. Interestingly, I feel that the tourist numbers seem down. Been relatively quiet in the scavi so far this week.
Our work this season will see us in some exciting properties. The House of Julia Felix, Chaste Lovers and Julius Polibius, The House of the Surgeon and House of the Vestals. The team is also now two teams, one completing remediation full time.
This season I am leading a photo team for the Remediation team. More to come tonight.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Slow Start to 2011
Hi everyone,
sorry about the slow start to 2011. Seems there has been a lot going on and I have finally sorted a bunch of stuff out so I can resume blogging my adventures in Ancient History and Archaeology.
2011 has not been a quiet year in the field so I have a lot of news, at least the most recent stuff, to catch you up on. Some most recent stuff about Pompeii and Herculaneum.
It's now only 8 weeks till work begins for me in the field with Pompeii Food and Drink and I am as excited as ever. Many of the team of volunteers from last year are coming back along with some new faces so I know we are going to have a blast. It is the only job you can do where the work is as much fun as the down time.
I am planning some new things this year including a podcast for Ancient History and Archaeology geeks like us and possibly an Ancient History expo towards the end of the year. The podcast will help me bring to you some of the most wonderful people who work in the field (particularly in Pompeii) and allow both teachers and archaologists to discuss the ins and outs of new discoveries, happenings and issues and also things that affect you, Ancient History students and enthusiasts, many of whom are completing studies in the discipline.
I am also begining to be invited to various schools to give presentations on Pompeii and my experiences there and work in the field as a member of the Pompeii Food and Drink team. Happy to attend any school to do this as long as you contact my Principal to arrange it.
At present, most of my Pompeii field work photos are in albums on my personal Facebook page. I will investigate starting up a Rob Brown Archaeologist Facebook page so that I can post the field work and appropriate pictures there. It will also provide a forum for comments and discussion as well as questions you may like answered for your studies.
Finally I am hoping to gain more experience excavation a little closer to home. I have made representations to the local council to begin an archaeological excavation on a small scale at a local colonial property close to home and school. It will allow me to not only develop my experience in excavation techniques but allow me to teach my students in the field not just out of texts with regards to archaeology. As red tape slowly gets processed and hoops are jumped through I'll cross fingers this eventuates. Some test survey work on the site was very productive with both brickwork and ceramic finds.
Anyway, I'll begin reposting news and information shortly.
sorry about the slow start to 2011. Seems there has been a lot going on and I have finally sorted a bunch of stuff out so I can resume blogging my adventures in Ancient History and Archaeology.
2011 has not been a quiet year in the field so I have a lot of news, at least the most recent stuff, to catch you up on. Some most recent stuff about Pompeii and Herculaneum.
It's now only 8 weeks till work begins for me in the field with Pompeii Food and Drink and I am as excited as ever. Many of the team of volunteers from last year are coming back along with some new faces so I know we are going to have a blast. It is the only job you can do where the work is as much fun as the down time.
I am planning some new things this year including a podcast for Ancient History and Archaeology geeks like us and possibly an Ancient History expo towards the end of the year. The podcast will help me bring to you some of the most wonderful people who work in the field (particularly in Pompeii) and allow both teachers and archaologists to discuss the ins and outs of new discoveries, happenings and issues and also things that affect you, Ancient History students and enthusiasts, many of whom are completing studies in the discipline.
I am also begining to be invited to various schools to give presentations on Pompeii and my experiences there and work in the field as a member of the Pompeii Food and Drink team. Happy to attend any school to do this as long as you contact my Principal to arrange it.
At present, most of my Pompeii field work photos are in albums on my personal Facebook page. I will investigate starting up a Rob Brown Archaeologist Facebook page so that I can post the field work and appropriate pictures there. It will also provide a forum for comments and discussion as well as questions you may like answered for your studies.
Finally I am hoping to gain more experience excavation a little closer to home. I have made representations to the local council to begin an archaeological excavation on a small scale at a local colonial property close to home and school. It will allow me to not only develop my experience in excavation techniques but allow me to teach my students in the field not just out of texts with regards to archaeology. As red tape slowly gets processed and hoops are jumped through I'll cross fingers this eventuates. Some test survey work on the site was very productive with both brickwork and ceramic finds.
Anyway, I'll begin reposting news and information shortly.
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