Conservation Issues, Pompeii and Herculaneum

Early excavations and attempts to restore and preserve the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum were the main factors that contributed to the decay of these two sites, as they have been exposed to the elements, human and natural alike. Despite the well intentioned works of the directors of excavations. However recent attempts and ventures by more modern institutions such as the Herculaneum Conservation Group (HCP), the Soprintendenza di Pompeii (SAP) have been more successful in contributing to the preservation and restoration of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Early excavation of both Pompeii and Herculaneum involved the intentional removal of artefacts and frescoes without regard for the buildings. Even when the concept of archaeology emerged with Fiorelli, there was not an accompanying recognition of the damage caused by tourism including accidental damage and vandalism. "Man is wreaking a greater damage than Vesuvius." Tourism is a source of funds but also deterioration at Pompeii. Herculaneum is less affected because it does not experience the volume of tourists who visit Pompeii each year. The site's erosion is particularly exacerbated by the thousands of tourists who visit each day. "In a few decades Pompeii will crumble to nothing" . Until recently, no special walkways or viewing platforms have been constructed so tourists can walk along ancient roads and footpaths. Any that are not paved with stone have been worn down, exposing pipes. A clear example of this is the footpath along the Via dell'Abondanza which is being worn down exposing pipes. Images from the past show its height above the road before this erosion. As footpaths were edged with volcanic tufa or limestone which is relatively soft, this edging needs replacing as it wears. In ancient times they would have been replaced, but this is not happening today. In some places ancient lead water pipes laid under paths have also been exposed and damaged.

The Herculaneum Conservation Project is a collaborative venture between the Soprintendenza Archaeologia di Pompeii, the Packard Humanities Institute and the British School of Rome. The project was developed in 2000 by Dr. David W. Packard and Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill who agreed with Professor Pietro Giovanni Guzzo that there should be an exploration of a major collaborative project. In May 2001, HCP was set up as a collaborative venture with the principal objectives of conserving and enhancing the ancient city of Herculaneum. The goal of the HCP was to slow down the rate of decay by major campaigns of emergency work and maintenance activity. "The absolute priority is to arrest the deterioration of Pompeii" . They did a site-wide map of the extent and nature of decay followed by the consolidation of collapsing structures, the stabilisation of crumbling plaster surfaces and disintegrating mosaics, eradication of vegetation, re-instatement of functioning water collection and disposal systems, roving repairs and substitution and pigeon control.

These are the first steps taken by the HCP to ensure that the ancient remains survive. Falconers are employed to keep away pigeons because of the acidic nature of the faeces which wears away at roofing and walls of many of the old structures, nets are also being installed to deter them from the site. They developed a conservation strategy to ensure the long-term survival of Herculaneum and enhance its value to all of its users. This is done in several ways; Strategies of continuous care, commission of numerous studies to improve our understanding of the site, good information management to ensure that data is used, commission of integrated pilot projects to experiment long term conservation interventions, a single case study on the Insula Orientalis I and numerous small experimental initiatives throughout the site.

The results from the HCP have now included solutions for drainage problems such as pumps being installed to remove water which helps with the protection of remains by diverting away the flow of rainwater, structures and mosaics have been repaired or replaced, walkways have been constructed along the ancient shore-line to provide temporary access to the Fornici, installing gates there to protect archaeological remains. Vegetation that may harm structures has been eradicated. Other natural pests to the site such as pigeons are now also under control and are no longer a severe threat to the conservation of the city. Through case studies and good information management, a greater understanding of the city and how to conserve it has been gained.

In Pompeii an attempt by the Soprintendenza di Pompeii to control site management was to introduce the Cave Canem Project , which is aimed to solve the problem of stray dogs in the ruins of Pompeii as they hinder excavations and the opening of more villas on the site . This project was started by Marcello Fiori,