The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-04-11
Discovery of Another POmpeii.

A correspondent of the London Times
writes; considerable interest has been
excited among the arch@ologist of South
discovery. This was nothing less than
the disentombment of another Pompeii.
The scene is in the neighborhood of Man
fredonia, on the Adriatic coast, about 140
miles northwest of Brindisi, in the low
lying ground which stretches from the
foot of Monte Gargano to the sea; and the
ancient city which has been revealed is
Sipuntum. Already the discoveries have
brought to light a Temple of Diana and Il
colonnade about IS feet long, and have
partially explored an underground ne
cropolis, which seems to be about 40 or
As feet square. A portion of the inscrip
tops and numerous interesting objects
which were found have been already de-
posted in the National Museum at Ma
plies, and the Italian Government has
given the requisite instructions in order
that extensive explorations shall at once
be carried out in a proper manner. The
disappearance OF Sipuntum was not ow-
ing to showers of volcanic ashes, similar
to those that buried its Neapolitan sis
tiers, but to sinking of the site on
which it stood, the effect, probably of
successive earthquakes. 1t was Il lucky
fate, for to it we owe its preservation in
its present state. The depression has
been so great that the ancient buildings
now lie at dn everage depth of twenty
feet below the level of the surrounding
plain. A portion of the existing town of
Manfredonia is built over the remains
of ancient Sipuntum, exactly as Or.
Schliemann found one town supcrimposed
over the yet existing remains of another
at Hissarlik. Sipuntum WAS originally
a Greek colony OF unknown date. Ira
diiion, as in the case of many other an
cient cities Of Apulia, attributed its
foundation to Dlomede. 1t was Old
when the Romans resetted all that coun-
try after the second Punic war. 1t was
then, probably, its name tloN the form
by which it is historically known. The
original name was Sapuns or SipOns,
given to it, most likely, from the cutie
fish tsepia) cast up on the neiShb"ring
shore. From this the Romans formed
Sifuntum, in the same way AS Tarentum,
Hydruntum, aud others. 1t WAS never
very t1ourishing; indeed, Apulia never
recovered the awful devastation of the
Punic war. Still, 1t managed to preserve
its existence, while other ancient cities
were disappearing so thoroughly that no
tradition fingers even of their site. But
by the middle Of the thirteenth century,
We are told, 1t was considered very un-
healthy on account of it, sunken position
and the marshes by which it was sur
rounded; the effect, doubtless, OF the
depres.io ions of the ground which had been
already established. So in 1851, Man
fred, the son of the Emperor Frederick
H., then King of Southern Italy, traas
terred the population to new town
which he built in higher and more
healthy situation, and which was called
after him Maufredonia. Tnenccforward
old Sipuntum was deserted aud handed
over To the earthquakes, which seem to
have dealt with 1t tenderly, not rudely
shaking it into rum, but wrapping ii in
clay and tula sand So eff .ctlvcly as to
hide it away iOr six centuries