THE DISCOVERY OF POMPEII
The first excavations of Pompeii: In the 16th century the first indications of the buried ruins of Pompeii were revealed when Domenico Fontana, who was constructing an aqueduct to Torre Annunziata, tunnelled into material and unearthed ruins. An inscription found in the area in 1689 confirmed that the site was that of ancient Pompeii and in 1748 King Charles of Naples turned his attention to the excavation there. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_rediscovery_01.shtml) (POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM INTERPRETING THE EVIDENCE, Brian Brennan and Estelle Lazer, Pages 19 - 21.)
Between 1806 and 1832, the great public buildings that stood around the ancient forum of Pompeii had been excavated also various public houses. By the 1830’s the forum of Pompeii had been uncovered and it was possible for tourist to visit the site, the theater, the gladiator’s barracks, many houses and the amphitheater were all now available to the public. By the 1860’s one third of the 66 hector site was uncovered. In the 20th century Vittorio Spinazzola, who was superintended abandoned Fiorelli’s method of working on complete blocks and concentrated instead reconstruction of streetscapes and the facades of buildings. Amedeo Maiuri also aided in the excavation of Pompeii and it was Maiuri who moved archaeological inquiry away from an overconcentration on the destruction of AD79 and the great houses of the wealthy. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_rediscovery_01.shtml) (POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM INTERPRETING THE EVIDENCE, Brian Brennan and Estelle Lazer, Pages 19 - 21.)
THE DISCOVERY OF HERCULANEUM
The first excavations of Herculaneum: In 1709, while constructing a well in the town of Resina the workers came across pieces of marble which was shown to Austrian Prince d’Elboeuf who then went on to sponsor the first excavations. The prince owned a massive villa in nearby Portici and he was interested only in objects of beauty and value that he could use to adorn his residence. For five years the prince had men tunnel into what had been the theater of Herculaneum and during this period of excavation they removed statues and marble columns and facings. These early excavations mimicked a treasure hunt and finds were quickly scattered as the prince gave away many of his findings to friends and family as gifts.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_rediscovery_01.shtml) (POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM INTERPRETING THE EVIDENCE, Brian Brennan and Estelle Lazer, Pages 17 - 19.)
In 1865, Guiuseppe Fiorelli started his work on the site and this led to the beginning of the scientific excavation of Herculaneum. But a significant amount of funds were required, some 30,000 lire, so Fiorelli got the financial backing of Victor-Emmanuel the King of Italy, who personally funded the excavation. In the time of Fiorelli, two town blocks and a narrow strip of buildings were uncovered. The hardened volcanic deposit was extremely difficult to cut into and the problems caused by the modern houses and apartments on the site it always meant that progress made on the excavations was slow before they were eventually suspended in 1877. Herculaneum did not attract many tourist as there was nothing spectacular to see and interest in the site waned. In 1903 Charles Waldstein Reader in Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University, attempted to put forth an international organisation to fund excavations at Herculaneum. He was successful in gaining the backing of king Edward vii of Britain and the American multi-millionaire J. Pierpoint Morgan, but due to Italian sensitivity and what the Italian's saw as foreign interference the plans to be abandoned.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_rediscovery_01.shtml) (POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM INTERPRETING THE EVIDENCE, Brian Brennan and Estelle Lazer, Pages 17 - 19.)
In 1865, Guiuseppe Fiorelli started his work on the site and this led to the beginning of the scientific excavation of Herculaneum. But a significant amount of funds were required, some 30,000 lire, so Fiorelli got the financial backing of Victor-Emmanuel the King of Italy, who personally funded the excavation. In the time of Fiorelli, two town blocks and a narrow strip of buildings were uncovered. The hardened volcanic deposit was extremely difficult to cut into and the problems caused by the modern houses and apartments on the site it always meant that progress made on the excavations was slow before they were eventually suspended in 1877. Herculaneum did not attract many tourist as there was nothing spectacular to see and interest in the site waned. In 1903 Charles Waldstein Reader in Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University, attempted to put forth an international organisation to fund excavations at Herculaneum. He was successful in gaining the backing of king Edward vii of Britain and the American multi-millionaire J. Pierpoint Morgan, but due to Italian sensitivity and what the Italian's saw as foreign interference the plans to be abandoned.(http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_rediscovery_01.shtml) (POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM INTERPRETING THE EVIDENCE, Brian Brennan and Estelle Lazer, Pages 17 - 19.)