SECRETS OF THE PAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 9

SECRETS OF THE PAST

EXCAVATION OF HERCULANEUM. COLOSSAL TASK BEGUN. A PICTURESQUE CEREMONY. tPre«» Aerostation—By Telegraph—Copyright.) ROME, May 16. (Received May 17, at 9 p.m.) The colossal task of excavating Herculaneum, 1848 years after its destruction, was officially started with all the scientific means at the Government’s disposalThe Royal yacht conveyed the Ministers and distinguished British and American visitors to Portici. The King, with his suite, proceeded thither in a destroyer. The Director of Fine Arts, addressing the King, recalled past efforts to penetrate the secrets of the hidden town, and at the conclusion of his speech gave a signal to the waiting workmen, upon which curious engines and mechanical perforators and spades began to hum, and scores of men started removing the earth. Nothing that Signor Mussolini has done has pleased the nation more than his decision to excavate Herculaneum. Today the entire population of Portici is making holiday. The streets are strewn with flowers.

Professor Najuri, Chief Director of Excavtaions, stated that no one can foresee the surprises as to the character and extent of the population of Herculaneum. The references of scholars, he says, are mostly conjecture. It is not known how far the city extended over the slopes. It is certain that it contained the important summer residences of wealthy Romans as well as works of art, mural paintings, sculptures, and bronzes, while it is likely that documents and the missing 'manuscripts of Roman writers may be discovered. Heiculaneum was first swept by the Slasts of a hot fiery air which smothered the inhabitants. The town was covered for five or six days after the eruption by layers of moving earth, mud, and gravel. Hardly any lava has been found, and hence it is not true to say that the town was buried under solid lava.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

Herculaneum was situated at the northwestern base of Mount Vesuvius, five miles east of Naples. Considerable obscurity shrouds its early history; but in 79 a.i>. it was buried along with Pompeii and Stabiae by the memorable eruption of Vesuvius of that year. It now lies at a depth of 40ft to 100 ft below the surface, and is covered with volcanic tufa, composed of sand and ashes, and consolidated" to some extent by water, which is often thrown up in great quantities during volcanic eruptions. Above it, cn the modern surface, are two small (owns, Portici and Resina, both of which are absorbed in the suburbs of Naples. In tho past the work of excavation has been restricted not only in consequence of the hardness of the tufa, but from the fear of undermining the dwellings on the surface. However, many treasures Mid art relics, far exceeding in interest and value those found at Pompeii, have been discovered, and these repose in the National Museum at Naples.