Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-06-30
Another Buried City,

Considerable interest has been ex-
cited among the archaolOgists OF South
ern Italy by reports of late remark
able discovery. This was nothing less
than the disentombment of another
Pompeli. The scene is the neighbor-
hood of Manfredonia, on the Adriatic
coast, about 40 miles northwest of
Brindisi, in the low lying ground which
stretches from the foot OF Monte Car
gano to the sea; and the ancient city
which has been revealed is Slpuntum.
Already the discoveries have brought
TO light Temple of Diana and a colon
made about 65 feet long, and have par
TALLY explored an underground necro-
polls, which seems TO be about 40 feet
or As feet square. A portion of the in
scriptions and numerous interesting
objects which were found have been
already deposited in the National
Msseuis al Naples, and the Italian
Government has given the requisite in
struct; ons IL order that extensive eX-
plor&tiOns shall at once be carried out
in a proper manner. The disappear
ance of Sipuntum was not owing TO
showers of volcanic ashes, similar to
those that buried the Neapolttan sis
ters, but to a sinking OF the site on
which 1t stood, the effect, probably, of
successive earthquakes. 1t was 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 an average depth
of twenty feet below the level of the
existing town of ManfredOnia is built
over the remains Of ancient Sipuntum
exactly as DR.. Schlienann found one
town superimposed over the yet exis-
ting remains of another at Hissarlik
Sipuntum was originally Greek colony
of unknown date. Tradition, as in the
case of many other ancient cities of
Apulia, attributed its foundations TO
Diomede. 1t was old when the Romans
resettied al that country after the
second Punic war. 1t was then, pro-
baby, its name took the form by which
it is historically known. The original
name was Sipus or Sipons. given to it,
most likely, from the cutie fish (sepia)
cast up on the neigEboring shore.
From this the Romans formed Spun
tum, in the same way as Tarentum,
Hydruntum, and others. 1t was never
very flourishing; indeed, Apulia never
recovered the awful devastation of the
Punic war. Still, it managed to pre-
serve its existence, while other ancient
cities were disappearing so thoroughly
that no tradition fingers even of their
site. But by the middle of the thir-
teenth century, We are told, it was con-
s'dered very unhealthy on account of
its sunken position and the marshe by
which it was surrounded; the effect.
doubtless, of the depression OF the
ground which had been already estab-
lished. So, in 1851 Manfred, the son
of the Emperor Frederick H.. then
King of Southern Italy, transferred, the
population to new town which he
built in higher and more healthy sit
uation, and which was called after him.
Manfredonia. Thenceforward cid Sip
untum was deserted and handed over
to the earthquakes, which seem to have
dealt with it tenderly, not rudely shaS-
ing it into ruin, but wrapping it in
clay aud tufa sand so effectually as to
hide 1t away for six centuries"