When excavations began in Pompeii in 1748, it was forbidden to take notes and make drawings without special authorisation from the king of Naples. Today, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, an institute with scientific and managerial autonomy under the Italian Ministry of Culture, publishes scientific data from new excavations and research online in a new digital journal, the ‘E-Journal degli Scavi di Pompei’, often while field work is still in progress. A choice of “radical transparency”, as the director of the UNESCO site, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, labelled the project, which was launched last May. Now the first nine articles, published during the year 2023 on important discoveries via the Archaeological Park's website (pompeiisites.org/e-journal-of-the-pompeii-excavations/) have been collated in a single volume - also in digital format.    …Read more

The tradition of nativity scenes dates back to more recent history, yet traces of ritual arrangements in houses are known from ancient times. 13 terracotta figurines, the remains of an ancient ritual, emerge from a room of a domus bordering the House of Leda and the swan, where an excavation and conservation are currently underway alongside a programme to improve accessibility and understanding of the site. The small sculptures of about 15 cm in height – as reported in the E-journal of the Pompeii excavations https://pompeiisites.org/e-journal-degli-scavi-di-pompei/ – among which one can recognise human figures, but also a walnut, an almond, the head of a rooster in clay and a glass pine cone were found in a room in an upright position on a horizontal plane where a shelf was probably affixed. The sculptures emerged from the pumice at a height of over 2 metres above the floor level. The walls of room that contained them, probably the atrium of the house, were painted and frescoes have emerged on the upper part of the walls. …Read more

NEW PRODUCTIONS FOR THE COLLECTIO AND SECOND CYCLE OF THE DIGITAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME Pompeii Commitment. Archaeological Matters – the first long-term, contemporary art programme, established by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii – announces the 2024 programme, which includes new productions for the Collectio and the second cycle of the Digital Fellowship programme. Pompeii Commitment. Archaeolog …Read more

EVENING WALKS, FROM VILLA OF THE MYSTERIES  TO VILLA REGINA AT BOSCOREALE INCLUDING THE ANTIQUARIUM FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE   The autumn evenings at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii continue during the month of December with walks to Villa of the Mysteries lit up at night and Villa Regina at Boscoreale, two examples of suburban villas with related productive activities.  The atmospheric Villa …Read more

Tours and initiatives designed to promote accessibility in the sites of GREATER POMPEII   The “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” is celebrated every year on 3 December. It is promoted by the Italian Ministry of Culture to underline the importance of access to cultural heritage, in keeping with high levels of inclusivity of all individuals without restrictions or distinctions, and in …Read more

In the floor are indentations to coordinate the movement of donkeys and enslaved workers A bakery-prison, where enslaved workers and donkeys were confined and exploited to grind the grain needed to make bread. A cramped room with no view of the outside world and with small windows high in the wall with iron bars to let the light in. In the floor indentations to coordinate the movement of the anima …Read more

3 days of meetings at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii   The European Research Council (ERC), the body that funds the largest and most innovative scientific research projects, has chosen the Archaeological Park of Pompeii as the venue for its annual conference, which normally takes place in Brussels, as a place of excellence for research and study. These three days of meetings mark the occasion …Read more

THE POMPEIAN FRESCOES COME TO LIFE ON SUSTAINABLE FABRICS MADE BY CLAUDIO CUTULI  The splendid frescoes in the House of the Vettii come to life on sustainable fabrics made of nettle yarn and natural dyes extracted directly from ancient dyeing plants like those currently being grown in the nursery of the ancient city of Pompeii. These are the scarves made in three different designs by the master dy …Read more

Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Park of Pompeii, the Department of Penitentiary Administration of the “Giuseppe Salvia” Prison of Poggioreale,  the Surveillance Court of Naples and the Authority for the rights of individuals deprived of personal freedom     Fresh from the positive experience, still underway, whereby the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has offered community service program …Read more

  New displays: Villa of the Mysteries, restored and properly lit, the re-opening of the Antiquarium of Boscoreale, with the display of the chariot of Civita Giuliana, new forms of access to the villas of Stabia    …Read more