Apolline Project: new discoveries on the dark side of Vesuvius
Source: pasthorizonspr.com
Since their discoveries, the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum have captured the public’s imagination and have thus occupied the attention of the academic community in the field of classical archaeology, and rightly so. However, the wealth of archaeology lying neglected on the northern slope of Mount Vesuvius is too often underestimated. There survives a world of undiscovered mystery surrounding the volcano, waiting to be unearthed, and it is only recently that these dormant remains have been considered for research.The Apolline Project is truly a pioneer in this illumination of what is now termed ‘the dark side of Vesuvius’. Its primary ambition is to piece together the untold pasts of the ancient territories of Nola and Neapolis through archaeology, volcanology, palaeobotany, excavation, and finds analysis, having made remarkable progress so far.
Story of what happened next
The recent exhibition at the British Museum that highlighted Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as the new Hollywood blockbuster Pompeii, are testament to the public’s thirst for insight into the impact of the Vesuvian eruptions. So far the famous Plinian eruption of AD 79 has been the focal point in the region’s long history, despite the volcano having inflicted numerous eruptions upon the Italian landscape throughout antiquity. This has led to a noticeable lack of knowledge concerning the consequences of the volcanic eruptions for those settlements that survived and were dramatically affected by these cataclysms.
It is the desire of the Apolline Project to see these forgotten lands and eras appropriately studied, so that archaeologists may tell the stories of those who had to carry on after the eruptions…the story of what happened next.
Prosperous region
The incredibly fertile landscape around Mount Vesuvius has always made it an idyllic and desirable setting for human occupation. Rich in minerals, rivers, and hot springs, this fertile volcanic landscape is as inviting as it is precarious, yielding a wealth of foodstuffs such as olives, hazelnuts, shellfish, figs, and grapes to name a few. Archaeological discoveries such as ancient ploughed fields, orchards, vineyards, and Roman centuriation grids demonstrate that in antiquity the region was thoroughly exploited for agricultural practices and the cultivation of a wide variety of crops, just as it is today.
Considering this abundance and variety of natural resources, from foodstuffs and fuel to natural building materials, the northern territories of Nola and Neapolis were well placed to become centres of mass industrial activity.
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Read the full article at: pasthorizonspr.com
Vertical filming of the archaeological dig on the slopes of Vesuvius at the Roman Villa with Baths in Pollena Trocchia
