New Archaeological Areas

Image from ansa.it (link below)

Pompeii continues to be victimized by a great number of issues. Friday November 6th saw the second day of closures for union meetings. For three hours (8–11 am) visitors numbering over a thousand were forced to wait for the gates to open. In essence, this is a "sciopero" ("protest"), although not an announced one; the guards at Pompeii, upset over hours and the new "pathways" that the administrators of the site want, have called two such union assemblies over the past three days.

The "Caos" (as Italian newspapers are calling it) surrounding Pompeii could not come at a worse time. UNESCO started a five-day inspection Saturday, 9 November. The UN education and scientific organization is looking into the Grand Pompeii Project. Meanwhile, archaeologists have recently uncovered some unfired clay pots near the Herculanean Gate (map, pictures), and the opening of several new houses have lured more visitors to the site. Labor issues threaten to offset the great progress being made in Pompeii.

New Things to See in Rome

The 2000th anniversary of the emperor Augustus' death has been a boon to tourists who want to see new things in Rome. 

In the Roman Forum, visitors can now visit down the ancient Vicus Iugarius ("Yokemakers Street"). 

Last month the Soprintendenza in Rome announced a new archaeological route along the Via Latina, where there are some fabulous tombs. Here is an article (in Italian) with good pictures. Click here for the website of the Soprintendenza, which is in Italian, but have opening times and ticket prices in English.

A report on the early Christian tombs at the Parco dei Ravennati next to Ostia Antica can be found here.

Greek Stuff

Moving quite south to Sicily, archaeologists from the German Archaeological Institute of Rome and the University of Bonn have discovered the largest industrialized ceramic production area ever found in the ancient world. Found in the valley (of the river Cottone) between the two plateaus of Selinunte, a Greek colony founded in the 7th c. BC and home to several spectacular Greek Doric temples, this ceramic quarter occupied an area some 1250 meters square and contained eighty kilns; the material remains from this area date from the fifth century BC. The archaeologists hypothesize that the largest kiln was used in the production of terracotta roof tiles, while the smaller kilns were used to make vases and smaller votive offerings. The workshop was destroyed in the sack of Selinunte in 409 BC by the Carthaginians. Article here (in Italian, but with three pictures), and an English summary here. 

The talk of the archaeological world is the Amphipolis tomb. I've nothing to add, but here is a website that's been documenting the discoveries, which are simply spectacular.