Ancient Pompeii

Naples, Italy
1st century B.C.--A.D. 79
Since excavation began in 1748, Pompeii continues to reveal what everyday life was like in the ancient Roman world. Pompeii is the source for most knowledge of ancient wall paintings, as well as how commercial and domestic establishments functioned in ancient Rome. To date, 1,266 buildings have been uncovered, within 109 acres excavated out of a total 163. Commercial structures, private dwellings, frescoed walls, marble and terra-cotta furnishings, household items, and even impressions (preserved as plaster casts) of people and animals at the moment of their death from the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius have been uncovered. American Express and Kress Foundation grants have supported urgent conservation and planning, but the perils that prompted Watch listing in 1996 and 1998 remain: physical threats, largely due to inadequate maintenance and conservation, and the need to manage tourist flow more effectively, and provide better interpretation for over 2 million annual visitors. Fiscal autonomy was recently granted to an effective on-site authority. Current goals include prioritizing necessary restorations and establishing guidelines for conversation procedures. The Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Ercolano, and Torre Annunziata are on the World Heritage List.

Listed in 1996 | 1998