Issues of Conservation and Reconstruction Packages of Information

Issues of conservation and reconstruction – packages of information

1. Threats to Pompeii and Herculaneum  In 1997 UNESCO listed seven key threats to the preservation of Pompeii and Herculaneum: pollution, natural disasters, theft, poor planning, inadequate site management and conservation, excessive excavation and tourism.  Although some action has been taken, these problems still remain.  In 2010 there were four bad collapses of buildings in Pompeii.

2. Poor restoration work  A lot of the reconstruction work has been done by local firms which lack the specialised skills needed to do it properly.  Poor quality mortar and adhesives have been used to restore stonework and plaster, causing decay, cracking and collapse.  Glass covering frescoes and mosaics has caused mould.

3. Damage from vegetation  Weeds have invaded the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Their roots have caused cracking in stonework, plasterwork and mosaics.  Algae, fungi and lichens have also caused damage in areas that are poorly drained.

4. Environmental factors  Earth tremors have damaged excavated areas.  Exposure to rain, sun and pollution has damaged frescoes.  Pompeii still has no functioning drainage system, so suffers damage from groundwater. Herculaneum had the same problem, but this was fixed when the original drainage system was.  Pigeons have also caused significant damage, pecking at wood and leaving acidic droppings.  Stray dogs were a problem in Pompeii in the 1980s, but these have now been removed.

5. Poor site protection and management  Between 1975 and 2000, over 600 artefacts were stolen from Pompeii and Herculaneum. The Camorra (Calabrian Mafia) may have been responsible.  Tourists regularly steal items and deface artefacts. They also leave rubbish at the sites.  The level of security has improved in the past 15 years, but is still not adequate.

6. Italian and International contributions and responsibilities  Up until 1997, the Italian government took all revenues from tourism in Pompeii and Herculaneum, but since then the Superintendent of Pompeii can keep all the revenue, and use it manage the two sites.  The superintendent can also raise revenue via international partnerships.  Both these initiatives have increased the budget for conservation and reconstruction.  Since the mid-1990s, many joint venture projects have been set up between the Italian government and international organisations.

1  In 1997, UNESCO declared Pompeii and Herculaneum to be World Heritage Sites.

7. The impact of tourism  2 million tourists visit Pompeii each year; half a million visit Herculaneum.  They have caused considerable damage to the site, stealing pieces of pottery, plaster and mosaic tile. They have also scratched their names into the walls of buildings, and damaged plaster with their sticky fingers.  Many houses have been closed to the public as a result.  Since 1997, however, all the revenues from tourism have been made available to the Superintendent of antiquities, so there has been a lot more money for conservation in Pompeii and Herculaneum.  Even so, it is likely that the negative impacts of tourism still outweigh the positive ones.

8. Protection, restoration and conservation  Protection refers to measures to preserve antiquities – e.g. closure of streets, buildings and rooms, covering frescoes and other wall markings, and reinforcing walls.  Restoration refers to the reconstruction of objects or buildings, so that they more closely resemble their original state. Many of the structures in Pompeii and Herculaneum have been restored, particularly the second floors of buildings.  Conservation refers to the process of ensuring that objects and structures are available for future study and enjoyment.