'Pompeii of France' Explored

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 77, 17 April 1937, Page 18

'Pompeii of France' Explored

p'"" , T * * PARIS — Hopes of uncovering anotber Pompeii are beld by archaeologists wbo arp preparing .to begin excavations on tbe site of tbe old Roman resort of Alba in southern Pranee. Tbe I'reneb Government bas just granted important credits for excavation of tbe ruins which bave been known for ceuturies buf never thoroughly investigated. Alba, in tbe department of Ardecbe, bore in-Boman times tbe name of Alba Augusta Helvorium. It was tbe capital of a provincey and celebrated in antiquity for its splendour. At tbe time of tbe Roman domination tbis town measured severai square miles in area and stood not far from tbe Rbone near a valley planted witb vines mentioned by Pliny. Like Pompeii, it possessed tbeatres, batbs, -palaces and temples and its population reached 60,000. However, in spite of its Roman garrison and its fortifications built in tiers on tbe neigbbouring hillside, it fell before tbe Barbarian invasion about tbe tbird century A.,D. Severai years ego, an archaeologicai mission from Yale University came to Ardecbe and traced tbe approximate site of Alba, and tbeir researcb work will be utilized by tbeir Prencb colleagues wbo bave been assigned to excavate this Pompeii of French. Altbougb hidden byf vines and cultivated fields, many traces of ancient Alba are visible. In tbe middle of the feigbteentb century, medals, pottery and urns filled witb cinders were often found. Parts of walls, capitals of eolumns, jewels and fragments oi sculpture bearing inscriptions bave been found tbere. Indeed, some of these relics got so far alield as to enter tbe Britisb Musoum in London. In very dry weather, tbe vegetatiou of the vines and tbe fields is less thick in certain places, and tbese patcbss being regular in shape, they suggest tbat beneath tbem are walls, paved roads and tiled courtyards.