HERCULANEUM.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1927, Page 4

HERCULANEUM.

DIGGING IN LAVA HAlii) AS STONE. NAPLES. May 18. Work is progressing leverishi'y at Resina, the modern village about three miles from Naples under the houses nl which, perhaps, untold treasures ol Roman archieology lie buried, to prepare the stage for the official inauguration of the new excavations at Herculaneum by the King on Monday. The ground which is now being excavated lias a curious formation. Firstcomes a layer ol extremely fertile soil wherein vines especially seem to Jlnvrish. Then ponies thick stratum of hard lava. Finally below that, 39 oi- <:() feet, are cinders vomited by \ ostiviotis 2,1)00 years ago. rammed so tight that they have the appearance and consistency of stone.

The search ol Resina’s subsoil, which after yielding some of the greatest of Roman art and culture was interrupted about 30 years ago. is awaited with the keenest interest because many believe it will prove an almost inexhaustible mine of information concerning the life of Roman times, completely overshadowing Pompeii in this respect, i-.xcavations will he resumed in a plot of open ground opposite Resina, between the main road leading from Naples to Castellammhre and the sea. The ground here has not been built over with modern houses, and it is therefore possible to uncover Roman remains completely, abandoning the system followed in previous excavations of digging deep pits Irom the bottom of which radial tunnels were

excavated in order to explore the ruins of the Roman city without damaging the foundations of the modern town. A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

A second section which it is proposed to explore includes houses on either side of the main street leading from the centre of Herculaneum to the ancient harbour. From the remains discovered during the preliminary excavations just completed it is easy to surmise that this was an elegant residential district.

The excavations so lar have been made on an area some 300 yards long and 200 yards wide. Two sides of this area, which is rectangular in shape, have the houses of Resina towering high above. On the other two sides the ground, which is covered with fertile vineyards, slopes gently to the sea. Excavation has been pushed to some 70ft. below the present level of the ground.

At the bottom of this enormous pit numerous Romain remains are to he seen. They include about a dozen bouses all built with the characteristic Roman square brick. One in the very centre of the excavation is especially beautiful. Tt has about a dozen columns facing what must- have been the central court which was the feature of all Roman houses. The walls are

I richly frescoed, the prevalent colour I being that particular tone of red the frequent use of which in the houses of Pompeii earned it the name the world over of Pompeian red. In another house a rich mosaic floor has been found. It is of particularly delicate workmanship and represents hunting scenes inside a border of lea ves, flowers, and fruit. TTTRKK STRATA. Neither of these finds is in any way exceptional, and they can be matched by numerous even better ones in Rom peii. hut their importance lies in the fact that they indicate clearly that the area chosen for excavation was formerly inhabited by wealthy citizens with refined tastes. Archreologists. therefore, have every reason to hope that other even richer finds may soon he made.

From the present site tlio excavn timis will lie extended rapidly toward the sdn till the ancient Harbour i reached.

Kxtremely modern methods will he used to dirt through these strata to the Homan remains 7. Q lt. below the surface. Special pneumatic tools supplied with compressed air by a central' compressor driven hv a petrol engine will bo used to loosen the soil, which will be removed afterwards in motor-lorries.