Early discovery

Pompeii

Rediscovery and 18th Century Excavations

1594 A workman discovered two Latin inscriptions when digging a canal. Discovery recorded by the architect Domenico Fontana.
1689 Ruined buildings and a Latin inscription were found by workmen building an aqueduct. The site was named Civitas - Latin for ‘City’.
1748 Charles III (King of Naples 1734-1759 - right) instructed Rocco Gioacchino de Alcubierre to begin excavations. Believed the site was Stabiae. Some artefacts and the first skeleton were found. Excavation followed no pattern and was conducted merely where it was believed something interesting might be found. The theatre and the Herculaneum Gate necropolis were uncovered.

1762 Johann Winckelmann (left) criticised Alcubierre’s methods.
1763 An inscription was found identifying the site as Pompeii. Street of the Tombs, Temple of Isis and a theatre unearthed. Moveable objects taken from site.
1778 First plan of Pompeii drawn by Francesco La Vega. Excavations continued throughout the rest of the century.

We pick up at this point- we need to know 19th and 20th century archaeologists.

19th Century Excavations

From 1808-1815 French King of Naples sponsored excavation of Pompeii under Francois Mazois with 1500 men.
From 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, excavation continued but on a lesser scale. Forum uncovered, and many houses (House of the Faun 1829; House of the Painted Capitals 1832).
Excavation of the site was haphazard. Buildings judged of no interest were abandoned, some even reburied. Both sites were looted - statues, columns, vases, coins, etc. were stolen, paintings were cut from walls, mosaics were lifted from floors. The location of most objects was not recorded - their context was lost.

Scientific process of excavation began in the 19th century, prior o that it was hazard and unprofessional. The first real archaeology began with:

In 1860 Guiseppe Fiorelli (right) became director of excavations. Began a systematic approach. Excavated from the top rather than the side. Realised that cavities in the ash were from decomposed organic matter - used plaster to recreate humans, animals, furniture, food and other matter.
Introduced numbering system. Divided the town into nine regions, each with up to 22 blocks (insulae). Each house was given a number. Therefore building V.13.26 was building number 26 in the 13th block of the 5th region.
In 1882 August Mau, German archaeologist, studied the artworks in Pompeii and divided them into four distinct styles.

20th Century Excavations

Aspects of human life were emphasised. Several houses reconstructed: House of the Silver Wedding; House of the Vettii.
From 1910-1923 Vittorio Spinazzola cleared Via dell’Abbondanza and excavated important buildings in the street, e.g., House of the Cryptoporticus. Many facades reconstructed. Made photographic record of his excavations.
From 1923-1961 Amadeo Maiuri was director of excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. He was the first to dig below the AD 79 level to uncover the earlier history of Pompeii.
Work stopped during World War II. Pompeii was bombed by the Allies in 1943.
In 1944 Vesuvius erupted.
In 1977 Fausto Zevi became director of Excavations and stopped any new excavations. The focus was to be conservation of what had already been excavated.
In November 1980 an earthquake caused damage.

Rediscovery and 18th Century Excavations

1711 Workmen of Prince d’Elbeuf discovered an ancient theatre under an old well. It was thought to be a temple at first. A series of tunnels were dug and artefacts were taken.
1738 King Charles appointed Rocco Gioacchino de Alcubierre to dig. He used very destructive methods. Vertical tunnels were dug down to recover artefacts. No records were kept.
1750 Karl Weber was appointed to assist Alcubierre. He developed a more systematic method, excavating slowly and keeping logbooks, drawing plans and recording all finds. Villa of the Papyri was discovered.
1760s Francesco la Vega drew a town plan.
1765 Excavation of Herculaneum was very difficult because of the depth (20 metres) and hardness of the volcanic deposits and the site’s location under the modern town of Resina. Excavations were suspended in 1765 to focus on Pompeii, which was more accessible.

19th Century Excavations

Excavations recommenced in 1828 when Francis I became King. The system of using tunnels was abandoned in favour of open digging.
The site came under the control of Fiorelli in 1865.
In 1877 excavations ceased again, because residents of Resina opposed their land being taken from them.

20th Century Excavations

Excavations recommenced in 1927 under Amadeo Maiuri (right).
Work ceased during World War II and did not commence again until 1958.
In 1982, dozens of skeletons were discovered in the boat sheds on the former Herculaneum beachfront.
Site is managed through the Superintendenzia- The Herculaneum Conservation Project- British School of Archaeology

This thermopolium was found early 2021...you can see how bright the colours are when first uncovered.

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