ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER ‘SLAVE ROOM’ AT POMPEII

Sun 07 November 2021:

Archaeologists discovered the remnants of a “slave room” at a Roman villa in Pompeii on Saturday, officials said.

They said the old city, which was buried in ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., appeared to be in excellent condition.

Officials hailed the discovery as a rare insight into slavery and the daily life of the enslaved.

A totally undamaged ceremonial chariot was also discovered earlier this year at the location in southern Italy. Archaeologists believe the room held slaves who were in charge of the chariot’s maintenance.

A @pompeii_sites nuova eccezionale scoperta, il ministro @dariofrance: «Pompei modello di studio unico al mondo. Trovata la stanza degli schiavi in eccellente stato di conservazione, nuova luce sulla vita quotidiana dei romani». https://t.co/LbAidtiTho #MiC #Pompei #Pompeii pic.twitter.com/hsHhe2aN95

— Ministero della Cultura (@MiC_Italia) November 6, 2021

Three wooden beds, porcelain pitchers, and a chamber pot adorned the 16-square-meter (170-square-foot) room.

Two of the beds were around 1.7 meters (almost 5 feet, 7 inches) long, while the third was only 1.4 meters. There was only one small window in the room.

A new discovery at #CivitaGiuliana has been announced by @pompeii_sites. It’s a room where the workers of the villa would stay, with couches and objects fully preserved. #Stunning new discovery that adds more information on this villa. Below the #thead ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jQcrYd9YU5

— Rubén Montoya (@rubsmontoya) November 6, 2021

Discoveries continue to be made at Civita Giuliana, in the suburban villa to the north of #Pompeii which has been studied since 2017, and from which – in the servant’s quarters – have already emerged a ceremonial chariot and stable containing the remains of 3 equines. pic.twitter.com/B26MzXbQL4

— Pompeii Sites (@pompeii_sites) November 6, 2021

There were amphorae — a type of container — in the corners of the room that appeared to belong to the master of the home. Officials believe slaves stored their valuables in two amphorae beneath their beds.

Archaeologists found several personal objects under the beds, including amphorae for private things, ceramic jugs and what might be a chamber pot.

The room grants us a rare insight into the daily reality of slaves, thanks to the state of preservation of the room and the possibility of creating plaster casts of beds and objects in perishable materials which have left their imprint in the cinerite that covered the structures. pic.twitter.com/Ao9LFxvyc6

— Pompeii Sites (@pompeii_sites) November 6, 2021

A wooden box in the centre of the room, as well as a drawbar leaning against the bed, were also discovered by the archaeologists.

According to the Pompeii archeological park, a nearby wooden trunk included copper artifacts and textiles that “look to be components of harnesses for horses.”

Nuove scoperte a #Pompei. La stanza degli schiavi di Civita Giuliana.
In questo video le parole del Direttore Generale del Parco Archeologico @GZuchtriegel e del Procuratore della Repubblica di Torre Annunziata Nunzio Fragliasso. pic.twitter.com/qiYzzrEPte

— Pompeii Sites (@pompeii_sites) November 6, 2021

The excavation is part of a 2017 initiative to combat criminal activities in the area, which includes tunnel digging to obtain artifacts that can be sold on underground marketplaces.

For years, the Villa of Civita Giuliana had been the object of systematic plunder. According to the park, there was evidence that some of the “archaeological heritage” in this so-called Slave Room had also been looted.

The damage caused by grave robbers at the property has so far been assessed at around two million euros ($2.3 million), according to the report.

Pompeii, which was rediscovered in the 18th century, is one of Italy’s most famous tourist destinations, with amazing findings being unearthed on a regular basis.

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