Another great find in Pompeii: they found an almost intact Roman ceremonial chariot

A large ceremonial float with four wheels, with iron elements, bronze and pewter decorations, remains of mineralized wood and traces of organic elements, such as ropes, It was found almost intact in the archaeological area of ​​Pompeii (southern Italy), the city buried in 79 AD. by the eruption of Vesuvius.

The discovery, of enormous value for knowledge of the ancient world, took place in the suburban village of Civita Giuliana, north of Pompeii, beyond the walls of the ancient city, reported this Saturday the archaeological park of Pompeii and the prosecutor’s office of Torre Annunziata, who are working together on this project which also aims to fight against clandestine looting.

The float was found “in excellent condition” in the portico of the city, in front of the stable where the remains of 3 equines had already emerged in 2018, including a harnessed horse and preserves its iron elements, the beautiful bronze and pewter decorations, the remains of mineralized wood, the traces of organic elements.

“It is an extraordinary discovery for the advancement of knowledge of the ancient world”, according to Massimo Osanna, outgoing director of the archaeological park, who pointed out that “in Pompeii transport vehicles have been located in the past, like that of Menander’s house, or the two cars found at Villa Arianna, but nothing similar to Civita Giuliana’s car ”.

It is “A float, probably the Pilentum known to sources, which is not used for daily use or for agricultural transport, but to accompany the community’s festivities, parades and processions.”

“Pompeii continues to surprise with its discoveries and will continue to do so for many years with twenty hectares still to be excavated. But above all, it shows that it is possible to promote it, it is possible to attract tourists from all over the world and at the same time it is possible to carry out research, training and studies ”, declared the Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini.

The minister stressed that the collaboration of different departments “prevents the theft and illegal marketing of such extraordinary discoveries”.

For his part, the chief prosecutor of Torre Annunziata, Nunzio Fragliasso, assured that “the fight against the looting of archaeological sites, inside and outside the urban area of ​​ancient Pompeii, is without any doubts one of its priority objectives ”.

The project aims to “put an end to the looting of cultural heritage by illegal immigrants who had drilled several tunnels in the region to intercept archaeological treasures”, in addition to “bringing to light and saving one of the most important towns in the territory. vesuvian “.

On January 25, the archaeological site of Pompeii unveiled several treasures discovered during the latest excavations, including intriguing amulets.

Inside a box, archaeologists discovered dozens of charms, rings and figurines in ivory, bronze, ceramic or amber which, apparently, were not enough to protect the city from the fury of Vesuvius.

“This is one of the most curious things that we discovered during our research: amulets […] that seem to have belonged to a woman or a man who used magic, ”he explained to the AFP the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Massimo Osanna.

Osanna made these remarks on the occasion of the inauguration of the Antiquarium, the renovated museum in which bronze statues, frescoes, gold and silver jewelry are displayed.

Archaeologists have only discovered a third of the site, which covers 44 hectares not far from Naples. “Here are some of the most important objects discovered since the 19th century. The Antiquarium takes you through centuries of Pompeii history, until the fateful day of the eruption, ”Osanna said. According to him, the space which recounts the last days of the city is “the most breathtaking section” of the museum visit.

Massimo Osanna, who has run Pompeii since 2014, oversaw a major renovation project funded largely by the European Union, which served to revitalize the place, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but poorly maintained.

In December, archaeologists announced an exceptional discovery: a “thermopolium”, a sort of fast food stall from ancient Rome, decorated with polychrome prints and in an exceptional state of conservation.

With information from EFE and AFP

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