Archaeologists are uncovering new finds on the northern slopes of the infamous volcano the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum have captured the public’s imagination and have thus commanded the attention of both the academic community and the general public The recent exhibition at the British Museum that highlighted Pompeii and Herculaneum coupled with the release of the major motion picture have popularized the ancient cities all the more another story along the northern slopes of Vesuvius that tells of a people who lived and died on the “other side” of the better-known setting Archaeologists have recently uncovered evidence of the people who lived and died on what has been termed “the dark side of Vesuvius” the northern slopes of the volcano and the adjoining ancient territories of Nola and Neapolis It is a story that may encompass not just the well-known AD 79 eruption but multiple past eruptions as well. Known as the Apolline Project students and volunteers have been slowly piecing together what remains of the ancient settlements that survived and were dramatically affected by these cataclysms.  The fertile landscape around Mount Vesuvius has always made it an idyllic and desirable setting for human occupation this fertile volcanic landscape is as inviting as it is precarious yielding a wealth of foodstuffs such as olives Archaeologists have now discovered evidence of ancient ploughed fields demonstrating that in antiquity the region was thoroughly exploited through the cultivation of a wide variety of crops 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 centers of mass industrial activity Ancient literary sources testify to this; for example Strabo described the area as “dotted all around with cities so thoroughly intertwined that it resembles closely a metropolis” was a valuable export for this prosperous region supporting trade connections as far as Britannia and India Understanding the exact nature of the communications and exchange processes within this region both before and after AD 79 has become the principal pursuit of the Project which seeks to understand not only the people who lived during these times but the nature of the economic and industrial landscape as well But the archaeologists face a challenge not uncommon in the field which today contains the traces of this area has been intensively settled and urbanized and as a result only a small percentage of its vast history has been brought to light It presents a real obstacle to archaeologists who are attempting to reconstruct an image of the ancient landscape and its settlements the accessible sites lying on the northern slope of Vesuvius have provided them with a window with long spans of occupation featuring multiple stages of post-eruption recovery and repopulation that provide clear allowing for the creation of extended chronologies and timelines Key to the efforts on the northern slope has been the discovery of a Roman bath and villa site located in the town of Pollena Trocchia revealing evidence to suggest that it was part of a larger villa complex now buried underneath an adjacent modern block of flats The discovery of the volcanic material deposited by the AD 79 eruption indicated that the villa complex were built in the years after the eruption the insight that the finds have provided in terms of both the inhabitants and their impetus to settle there has been extraordinary The discovery of a brick stamp imprinted onto a tile lining the bath’s hypocaust shows the distinct mark of the Domitii brothers a prosperous family from Rome who produced this stamp between AD 75 and AD 95 suggests that the inhabitants of this site were very affluent and settled there soon after the eruption perhaps tempted by the fertile earth left by the volcano the rich data from the site at Pollena Trocchia obtained through charcoal analysis of carbonized plant remains has revealed the exact species of vegetation and offers insight into how they were cultivated to shape the Roman landscape evidence of chestnut (a known construction timber used by the Romans) suggests that the late antique woodland on the north slope may have been partially and purposefully composed of chestnut trees the plethora of woodland that blanketed Mount Vesuvius in Roman times was also required in vast quantities for fueling industries such as pottery-making and iron-smithing It also played a more domestic role in cooking and in the heating of Roman baths By identifying evidence of activities that would have incorporated wood archaeologists and palaeobotanists alike are investigating the transportation and management of ancient forests and whether the woodland of Vesuvius was enough to satisfy the enormous demand for timber The researchers have found that not all archaeological finds the remains of two children were discovered buried in two small amphorae Amphorae are large pottery vessels that were usually used for transporting wine and other foodstuffs but they were also occasionally used for infant burials The occupation of this site may have ended the way it began, with a volcanic eruption. This eruption struck on November 6th, AD 472, the site itself being destroyed by lahars creating an atmospheric disturbance that caused severe downpours of rain which then flowed rapidly down the mountainsides picking up literally tons of ash and mud on their way the stratigraphy it left behind has been indispensable to the archaeological research  Overview of the excavated remains of the Pollena Trocchia bath complex  ___________________________________________________ Excavating volcanic ash under the heat of the midday sun is no easy feat but these archaeologists are determined to make a discovery many walls are still so high that it remains a walk-in complex.  © Girolamo F Stunning preservation of mosaic floors bring the baths to life A splash of water reveals the hidden maker’s mark of the Domitii Brothers on this flooring brick stamp.  © Girolamo F __________________________________________ The imprints of carbonized vegetation have led palaeobotanists to determine exactly what trees and plants the Roman inhabitants were using in their daily lives Pollena Trocchia is not the only site that has shed light on the area the grand villa complex at Somma Vesuviana boasts a long and mysterious history with speculation about its ownership and function it was thought to have been owned by the Emperor Augustus himself the function of the building changed after the AD 79 eruption and there are strong indications that it might have been an industrial center for the mass production of wine During excavations by the University of Tokyo a plethora of Dionysiac imagery and motifs have been found throughout the structure marble statue particularly evokes this: it features the god holding a panther cub Due to the size and discoveries made at this site it is well known within the field of Roman archaeology It is this scale of attention that Apolline Project researchers hope to achieve for the Pollena excavations has had its fair share of archaeological attention these Roman baths are thought to have belonged to a larger villa complex Thanks to an extraordinary fresco found in Lancellotti Castle nearby researchers have deduced that much of this villa was removed to construct the church of San Giovanni del Palco The Villa of Laura baths are most noted for their decoration Also known as ‘The Blue Baths’ and stone furnishings are studded with bold blue tesserae The surviving mosaics depict detailed scenes involving various birds Combining secondary sources such as maps and literary accounts with results of the actual excavations the Project has constructed local archaeological maps of the area around Nola and Neapolis thus giving back to the modern day residents a sense of their history and identity Project staff have also engaged with local landowners and enthusiasts to give the community an active role in the search for their heritage a quest that is expected to continue for generations For more information on the work of the Apolline Project and how to participate, go to the website at http://www.apollineproject.org/ Interested readers may also contact the project’s director, Girolamo Ferdinando De Simone at [email protected] _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Read about the most fascinating discoveries with a premium subscription to Popular Archaeology Magazine.  Find out what Popular Archaeology Magazine is all about.   Subscribe to Popular Archaeology Premium Still the industry’s best value at only $9.00 annually Just twelve hours after graduating with a UQ Bachelor of Arts in ancient history and a Diploma in Languages Johanna Qualmann will be jetting to her next adventure – archaeological digs in Turkey and Italy Her first stop will be Turkey’s Boncuklu Höyük site where she’ll be getting her hands dirty for the next month and she can’t wait “I'm really looking forward to taking everything I've learned in my archaeology courses especially the one I did in Turkish archaeology and applying it myself,” Ms Qualmann said “It’s such a terrific opportunity to immerse myself in the artefacts and materials and seeing how everything fits together – or doesn't “I’ll be excavating some Roman baths located inside a larger villa complex – a completely different culture and time period to Boncuklu,” she said “The dig takes students from all over the globe so I'm really looking forward to meeting other archaeology students from around the world who are just as enthusiastic about Roman archaeology as I am.” Europe is a far cry from the small town of Modenville in northern NSW where Johanna comes from but she caught the travel bug after her study tour to Italy last year “My main interests are in Roman history and archaeology so being able to walk around a corner in Rome and see the Colosseum or the Pantheon or Trajan's column was amazing,” Ms Qualmann said She said she had really enjoyed her undergraduate studies and was so at home in the university environment that she was “a bit sad to have finished” “Three and a half years have flown by incredibly quickly it feels amazing to have a whole degree to my name I really have achieved a lot in my time here’,” she said Ms Qualmann has contributed as a student mentor and ambassador a volunteer at the RD Milns Antiquities Museum and the archaeology labs and president and secretary of the Classics and Ancient History Student Society a summer research scholar and had won an undergraduate research oral presentation award as she plans to return to UQ next year to study for Honours and then a Master of Philosophy in Classics “At some point in my career I'd also like to teach and help future students to critically engage with both the past and present and ask questions that might not always be at the forefront of classical research,” she said This year marks 101 years of graduates at UQ since the first degrees were awarded in 1913 Queensland’s largest university has graduated more than 210,000 students and has a proud cohort of alumni who have gone on to make their mark in more than 150 countries MEDIA: Johanna Qualmann, johanna.qualmann@gmail.com, 0401 459507. Kristen Johnston, k.johnston@uq.edu.au For more on UQ Graduations: UQ Communications July 2014 Graduation Schedule: http://www.uq.edu.au/graduations/july-2014-ceremony-dates-times Live coverage of the graduation ceremonies available here: http://www.uq.edu.au/graduations/live-broadcast +61 7 3365 1111 Ph. 3365 3333 Il 11 May 2023 the Giro d'Italia will stop at Napoli the Nolano and the Amalfi Coast in a long route 162 kilometers The most famous cycling competition in Italy will see its athletes leave and arrive in the Campania capital Sul Official site of the Giro d'Italia a special has been created page regarding the stage in Naples In addition to being the information regarding the official route for cyclists we find many indications regarding the Neapolitan territory points of interest and many others itourist information on the city of Naples Il percorso of the Neapolitan stage of Tour of Italy will go through a total of 22 Municipalities During the stage they are expected two flying goals the first in Sant'Antonio Abate and the second in Sorrento cyclists will tackle two mountain grand prix: the first at the Chiunzi pass in the locality of Picco Sant'Angelo in Sant'Agata dei Due Golfi Napoli boasts a long seeds since Tour of Italy having hosted numerous stages in previous editions of the race The city has always shown great enthusiasm and passion for the event warmly welcoming both athletes and cycling enthusiasts The Giro d'Italia is un event of international resonance which helps to promote the image of the city and the region in the world tourist and landscape excellences of the area It therefore represents an important occasion for the city and the region from the point of view economic e tourist we earn a commission from qualifying purchases through ticketing links This commission does not entail any additional price for the user.