Pompeii/Herculaneum: reconstruction/preservation - issues: Italian/tourism

Question 1

problems with reconstruction:

Answer 1

• must be 100% authentic with complete evidence
• if modern interpretation will change whole atmosphere of site
• HERC eg. House of the relief of Telaphus, Andrew Wallace Hadrill wanted to put authentic roof- stopped unsure genuine
• modern roof was placed on top to protect marble, mosaics, frescoes inside
• if poorly done: Schola Armaturarium collapse in 2010 , inappropriate materials

Question 2

Italian cont:

Answer 2

• 27mil euros a year to conservation
• UNESCO listed site, under Italian gov responsibility
• Soprintendenza (SANP) not sufficient maintenance, Wallace-Hadrill thinks inevitable for scale/fragility of Pompeii
• dysfunctional gov, heritage funding cuts
• business paper think Pompeii should be given to private sponsors (Herc: by Packard Foundation–> British School of Rome with SANP)

Question 3

when UNESCO listed

Answer 3

1997, law passed to direct all funds from tourism back into sites

Question 4

issues with both Pom/Herc:

Answer 4

water management, ordinary decay, sun damage, vegetation, incompatible conservation/restoration work, tourism

Question 5

problem with tourists:

Answer 5

• concentrated areas-> increase work to stop damage, high conc areas take money from other places, causing more damage
• bring money for restoration, to restore damage from tourists

Question 6

intentional damage: tourist

Answer 6

• obligated right to take home souvenir, break small pieces of mosaic, marble etc.
• vandalism and carving onto walls
• touching frescoes

Question 7

unintentional damage:

Answer 7

leaning against walls/window ledge

- walking, eroding pathway, stepping stones wearing away (fixed by scaffolding between),

Question 8

guides/barricade issues:

Answer 8

• private contractors, no guidlines do not enforce rules entirely, limited knowledge
• varied fences metal gates to broken wood
• unclear whether to enter or not, not notified of closed sites either

Question 9

Herc specific problems:

Answer 9

beneath water table, need expensive pump 24/7, greatest damage, also vegetation growth

Question 10

Pom specific problems:

Answer 10

extent hard to maintain, sun fading frescoes, pigeon poo–> eagles?