What passes for conservation in Pompeii (or so I have been told by
conservators on site) is nothing more than propping up most of the shells.
Very few structures are on show. It seems to the (archaeologically informed)
visitor that in order to keep presenting well-preserved material to the
public, the Soprintendenza simply excavate part of another city block. Much
of the ancient city is once again in ruins, not "as found" but "as left". I
have asked (and not been answered satisfactorily) about whether there is
some sort of transparent decision-making process that determines what is
conserved and what is let go. Of course there is not enough money; what
would be interesting here, as indeed everywhere else, is to see informed and
defensible decisions being taken about selection. We are all facing this
issue, and it continues to be a challenge.

Giovanna Vitelli








-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of geoff
carver
Sent: 06 November 2010 19:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: House of the Gladiators collapses in Pompeii

A problem we're probably all facing with the economic crunch, but Italy and
Egypt have a lot more trouble than much of the rest of the world (having so
much to protect):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11704720