A team of archaeologists at Pompeii has uncovered an alleyway of grand houses, with balconies left mostly intact and still in their original hues.
Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Italy’s volcanic ash-covered city of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Some of the balconies even had amphorae – the conical-shaped terra cotta vases that were used to hold wine and oil in ancient Roman times.
The discovery has been hailed as a ‘complete novelty’ – and the Italian Culture Ministry hopes they can be restored and opened to the public.
Archeologists inspect excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
The culture ministry’s Pompeii authority announced the discovery Thursday.
It said the balconies were a ‘complete novelty’ for this part of the buried city, which hasn’t yet been fully excavated.
Upper stores have seldom been found among the ruins of the ancient town, which was destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius volcano and buried under up to six metres of ash and volcanic rubble.
A handout photo made available by The Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Naples and Pompeii (SANP) shows aerial view of the excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Uncovered buildings with big balconies have Pompeian red colors and geometric, flowers and animal decorations. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
Left, a general view of the excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii. Right, An amphora recovered during excavation works at the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered
A statement said the balconies will be restored and the area included in a tour open to the public.
‘This type of find is a novelty for this area of Pompeii,’a spokesperson for the archaeological site said in a statement shared to social media.
‘Almost two thousand years from the eruption of 79 AD, Pompeii continues to give us treasures.’
Archaeologists found a series of buildings with three large balconies, in an area of Regio V which has been the focus of excavations.
‘On one of the balconies we have also discovered toppled over wine amphorae, which were likely left out to dry in the sun,’ the team said.
‘The balconies will be restored and included in an all new visitor itinerary which will connect Via di Nola with Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento,’ they added.
Massimo Osanna, Superintendent of the Special Superintendency for the archaeological heritage of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia shows a bronze vase discovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Uncovered buildings with big balconies have Pompeian red colors and geometric, flowers and animal decorations. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
A man points at a detail of a fresco that was found during excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Right, jaguar painted on tiles recovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered
‘A series of buildings with three large balconies have emerged in an area now being excavated.
‘On one of the balconies, pots of wine lying on their side [were also found, which were] probably put out to dry in the sun,’ the statement continued.
Experts will now restore the houses, which will be open to the public as part of a new tour route at the popular site once the necessary work has been completed.
A column with overlaid marble emerged from the ground during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies) was recently uncovered in Pompeii, Italy, 17 May 2018. The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii.
Details of frescos that were found during excavation works in the archaeological site of Pompeii, Thursday, May 17, 2018. Archaeologists excavating an unexplored part of Pompeii have discovered a street of houses with intact balconies that were buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Earlier this week the ancient remains of a military horse that died 2,000 years ago in the inferno that obliterated Pompeii were discovered – thanks to the help of tomb raiders.
Criminals had been using tunnels they dug to search for valuables in the ruins of a Roman villa, located in a suburb of the long destroyed city.
Amphoras recovered during excavation works at the archaeological site of Pompeii, where the ‘Vicolo dei Balconi’ (Alley of Balconies)
The Alley of Balconies was uncovered in previously unexcavated area in Pompeii. Uncovered buildings with big balconies have Pompeian red colors and geometric, flowers and animal decorations. Almost two thousand years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the buildings will be restored and will become a part of a route at the Pompeii.
Their work prompted conservators of the Unesco world heritage site to start their own digs, in order to put a stop to their activities and protect its remaining artefacts.
Researchers used laser scanning to map a 200ft (60m) long network of illegal tunnels dug by the robbers and began excavating.
They recreated the complete outline of the horse they discovered using plaster casting, the first time this has happened at the site.
The remains of humans, mules, donkeys and other animals that were victims of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius’ in AD 78 have previously been restored using the technique.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF POMPEII?
Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year AD 79, burying the cities of Pompeii, Oplontis, and Stabiae under ashes and rock fragments, and the city of Herculaneum under a mudflow.
More than 16,000 people are believed to have died in the chaos, with bodies still being discovered to this day.
An administrator and poet called Pliny the younger watched the disaster unfold from a distance.
Letters describing what he saw were found in the 16th century.
Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year AD 79, burying the cities of Pompeii, Oplontis, and Stabiae under ashes and rock fragments, and the city of Herculaneum under a mudflow
His writing suggests that the eruption caught the residents of Pompeii unawares.
He said that a column of smoke ‘like an umbrella pine’ rose from the volcano and made the towns around it as black as night.
People ran for their lives with torches, screaming and some wept as rain of ash and pumice fell for several hours.
The Orto dei fuggiaschi (The garden of the Fugitives)shows the13 bodies of victims who were buried by the ashes as they attempted to flee Pompeii during the 79 AD eruption of the Vesuvius volcano
While the eruption lasted for around 24 hours, the first pyroclastic surges began at midnight, causing the volcano’s column to collapse.
An avalanche of hot ash, rock and poisonous gas rushed down the side of the volcano at 124mph (199kph), burying victims and remnants of everyday life.
A plaster cast of a dog, from the House of Orpheus, Pompeii, AD 79
Hundreds of refugees sheltering in the vaulted arcades at the seaside in Herculaneum, clutching their jewellery and money, were killed instantly.
As people fled Pompeii or hid in their homes, their bodies were covered by blankets of the surge.
While Pliny did not estimate how many people died, the event was said to be ‘exceptional’ and the number of deaths is thought to exceed 10,000.