Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-09-30

MV@b interesting PaFT OF gnS MUtn@ |
Uncovered by Recent Excavations
Director Of Naples Museum Has
Succeeded In Recovering Much o.
the Original Appearance Of Old
Houses, Which Were Lost In the
Earlier Excavations.
Recent excavations at POmpeii give
a very different idea OF the ancient
city and its, life, according to Edward
Robinson, director of the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art, Of New York, who
has just returned from a visit there.
Those who have seen the previous ex-
cavatiOns have a recollection of one
story buildings, with straight, plain
walls in front. The new excavations.
with the work more scientifically done,
show that Pompeii was a town of two
story buildings, with little balconies
at the front above picturesque awning
like projections over the store fronts,
where large doors opened ON to the
street. In the gardens at the rear Of
the houses roots of what must have
been good-sized trees have been found
the first evidence that the ancient
city was provided with trees. The
house fronts have been restored doors
and blinds to the stores have been
put In place, and In the little gardens
in the courts of the houses flower
gardens have been set out on their
original lines.
Hard to Get Guards.
The new excavations, which are
along the important Strada DELI Alb
bondanza, had not been opened to the
| public at the time Mr.. Robinson Wis
tied Pompeii. One reason for the de-
lay was the difficulty of obtaining a
sufficient number of men to act as
| guards TO safeguard the new discOv-
cries. The frescOes on the walls, the
contents OF the houses, and even some
of the eXcavated bodies have been left
where they were found instead Of be-
Ing taken to museums as was the
practice in the work of excavation
done previously, as the Italian au-
thorities have as yet made no an
nouncement Of the discoveries. MIR.
Robinson would not discuss the ma.
ture of new frescoes, except to say
that they are to remain on the build
ings where they were originally placed
Previous excavation in PompeiI, moi
half Of which has yet been uncovered
were In the western part of the town
In this part was the Forum, which
was the center OF the life OF the city
The Strada dell' Abbondanza ran from
the Forum to the extreme southeast
ern corner ofa the town where the
amphitheater was.
"This excavation is In the most In
teresting part Of the ruins" says Mr.
Robinson. "The work was begun II
1911 and until quite recently the new
ly excavated district had not beef
/ open to the public. It was to hav,
been opened this spring. The worl
Is being conducted by the director o
: the museum in Naples. Professor Wit
! torio SpinazzOla, and whereas the ear
: lier excavating was done in a NOR,
: or less haphazard manner ne ha
4 brought to the work the most moderl
: processes In excavation and observa
Q ton Of results and has sifted ever
particle of evidence as the work pro
( crossed so that no data should
r lost. In that way he has succeeds
: in recovering much of the original az
o pearance Of the old houses, which wa
lost in the earlier excavations.
Restores Shape Of Woodwork.
8 "Many years ago the process O
: pouring plaster In the space occupie
by dead body and thus obtaining
cast was employed by Prof. Spinas
cola. He has used the same method
with carbonized wood, and in tha
way has been able to restore the shap
Of much of the woodwork Of til
houses. The result Is that where th
parts of the town uncovered in til
earlier excavations are In the cOnd
ton of the devastated towns /
France, only brick and stone wal
standing In ruined condition, with tt
newer methods the models of tt
framework, doors and shutters OF Il
houses have been reproduced, and tf
result is a much more life-like appea
ance of what the town must have bee
before It was destroyed.
"From two-thirds to three-tOurtl
OF the Strada delr Attendance HI
been excavated, and Prof. Splnazzo
expects to continue until the who
street is uncovered. Prof. Spinazzo
has proved that the houses were tw
story structures, while 1t was previou
~ supposed that P0mpeii was on
story town, and that the occasion
two-story buildings shown In the o
excavations were exceptions. He n
also shown that there were little BIZ
comics overhanging the street, liti
loggias opening on the streets, as Sc,
In many italian towns Of today. Mo
of the houses had shops, with awnin
like projections.
"Street doors have been restored WI
the original bronze bolts and loci
q. 4