Ercolano: sequestrati reperti romani (II secolo a.C.) in casa di un pescatore

Antiquities have been seized from a retired fisherman at Herculaneum. He's probably had the pieces (amphorae, an incense-burner and a column) for years and years ...

Ercolano: sequestrati reperti romani (II secolo a.C.) in casa di un pescatore

Reperti archeologici di epoca romana in casa di un pescatore in pensione di Ercolano, che finisce così nei guai prendendosi una denuncia dalla Guardia di Finanza. Oltre alla denuncia il pescatore ha subito anche il sequestro della sua collezione che vantava reperti di epoca romana datati II secolo a.C. provenienti da relitti presenti sui fondali campani e calabresi. La collezione comprendeva 13 anfore vinarie, 1 piccola anfora per profumi, un incensiere di argilla chiara e una colonna.

[Source]

Recovered antiquities displayed in Colosseum

Stolen antiquities recovered by the Italian police were displayed in the Colosseum on Friday. The recovered pieces include frescoes from villas in Pompeii's hinterland. You can read the press releases here in English and here and here (with pictures) in Italian, but for the full saga you should take a look at David Gill's excellent Looting Matters blog.

Ritrovata la sacerdotessa di Boscoreale

News that the fresco stolen in 1997 from the Villa of Asellius and recovered last year in New York by Carabinieri is to be returned to Pompeii. Read the report in Insomma.it here. For previous posts about the fresco, its history and recovery, and a photo, see here and here.

Napoli, recuperata una statua romana di inestimabile valore in un condominio

See Il Mattino for news of an ancient statue seized by the Carabinieri in the Fuorigrotta district of Naples. The statue - which it is claimed was probably part of a monument commemorating an Antonine emperor - had been on display in the garden of a condominium since the building had been constructed in the 1930s. It is thought that the statue was found during the construction work and was left in situ (kind of!). The carabinieri uncovered plans to steal the statue and sell it during a wider investigation into the illegal antiquities market - and moved in to grab it before the thieves. The statue has been taken to the Naples Museum for restoration, and will probably go on display there in the future.

Looted artifacts being returned to Italy from NYC

Here is an Associated Press release about the return of a Pompeian wall-painting. See an earlier post for details about the painting, its original discovery, theft and recovery:

NEW YORK — Two stolen ancient artifacts are being returned to Italy from New York City.

An Italian government representative is taking possession of them at a ceremony Wednesday. The artifacts are a Pompeii plaster wall painting and a Corinthian vase for mixing water and wine.

They were recovered by immigration and customs officials in June. Both items had been scheduled for auction in New York before they were discovered to have been stolen.

Immigration officials said the vase may have been illegally introduced into the art market by Giacomo Medici in 1985. The art dealer was convicted in Rome in 2004 of conspiracy to traffic in antiquities.

The wall painting was reported stolen in Italy in 1997.

Castellammare: Sequestrate oltre 60 reperti archeologici

This from today's StabiaNews.tk:

'Le fiamme gialle del Comando Provinciale di Napoli, nell’ambito di un’operazione volta al contrasto del traffico illecito di reperti archeologici hanno sequestrato oltre 60 reperti in ottimo stato di conservazione, di notevole interesse artistico, storico ed archeologico, risalenti al IV secolo a.c. In particolare, a seguito di mirate indagini ed appostamenti effettuate da parte dei militari della Compagnia di Castellammare di Stabia, in data odierna si è proceduto ad effettuare, in contemporanea, due distinte perquisizioni domiciliari in abitazioni ubicate nei noti quartieri Stabiesi “Cicerone” ed “Aranciata Faito”, che si sono concluse con il rinvenimento di anfore, piatti, ollette, vasi, coppa biansata, coperchi, oynichoe, cratere a campana, maschere, vasetti, mezzelune, lekythos a vernice, manici, ciotole, ed uno splendido affresco a fondo rosso con figure mitologiche di ingente valore artistico ed economico. I reperti erano conservati in modo accurato da parte dei responsabili e ben occultati all’interno delle abitazioni. Nel corso dell’intervento sono stati interessati i Funzionari della Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei in servizio presso l’Ufficio di Pompei che, dopo accurato esame, hanno fornito una dettagliata relazione dei reperti, confermando il notevole interesse artistico, storico ed archeologico, nonché l’ingente valore economico. Si tratta quasi certamente di reperti provenienti dagli scavi di Paestum e risalenti al IV secolo a.c. I due responsabili sono stati denunciati a piede libero all’A.G. di Torre Annunziata, mentre i reperti sono stati sottoposti a sequestro.'

OltreGomorra: archeologia

OltreGomorra is a website set up by Italian writer Roberto Saviano, who has become (in)famous for his book Gomorra (in English Gomorrah) on the camorra (the Neapolitan mafia).

The website includes a Vocabolario della camorra, and includes a dicussion on camorristi and archaeology, and the so-called Archeomafia:

archeologia
Le opere d'arte antiche oggi servono per lo più ad adornare le ville kitsch degli ultimi arricchiti, dove troviamo copie di statue romane e greche, spogliate completamente della importante simbologia concepita dall'artista che le creò e ridotte ad oggetto decorativo un po'cafone. Nel rapporto Ecomafia 2008 di Legambiente è documentato persino che dei pregiatissimi reperti archeologici trafugati, di epoca greco-romana, venissero usati non come elementi decorativi, ma proprio come sottovasi o altre suppellettili.
Questi ultimi arricchiti costituiscono, quindi, un mercato, che va opportunamente soddisfatto. Con una tale ricchezza a portata di mano, la camorra ha trovato subito il modo di servirli e di lucrarci su. E, purtroppo, non è solo un business della camorra, ma di tutte le mafie, tanto che è stato coniato un apposito termine: "archeomafia".
Per la camorra e la mafia sono fonte di business anche le testimonianze di quell'antico passato, in cui la ricchezza e il progresso erano date e misurate dalla profondità e dall'avanguardia del sapere, in cui l'informazione era solo l'entità minima di un sistema culturale complesso, l'esatto contrario di ciò che accade oggi, dove l'informazione è il fine ultimo, viene manipolata ad hoc e non esiste ricchezza dove c'è solo cultura.
Legambiente definisce l'archeomafia " l'attività dei gruppi criminali organizzati che trafficano illegalmente opere d'arte, operando a danno del patrimonio archeologico, storico ed artistico che viene razziato in Italia o più in generale in ogni Paese che custodisce un importante patrimonio culturale."
Il giro di affari è di circa 150 milioni di euro all'anno e con tutta probabilità le organizzazioni criminali operano a stretto contatto con funzionari pubblici.
Il business dell'archeomafia funziona in questo modo: gli scavi o i furti sono commissionati ai "tombaroli", mercenari al servizio delle mafie. Nell'organizzazione c'è poi chi si occupa di falsificare la documentazione. Sono per lo più finti esperti che certificano datazione e provenienza dell'opera in modo fraudolento. Si cambia, cioè, identità all'oggetto, come si fa con il traffico di rifiuti.

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Pompei: tombaroli in una Villa Romana. Recuperati oggetti trafugati

This from today's Metropolis web by Ilaria Barbati:

POMPEI (NAPOLI) - Un rudere al centro di un appezzamento di terreno in contrada Civita Giuliana è l´ingresso verso la storia. Dentro, una botola copre un buco profondo sette metri, attraverso il quale si accede al tunnel dei tombaroli. Cinquanta metri tra umidità e detriti e poi l´accesso alla Villa «Fondi Imperiali», già censita ai primi del Novecento, scoperta dagli archeologi e poi riseppellita nel 1950 con dentro tutti i suoi
tesori. I mercanti di antichità erano riusciti ad entrarci, ed avevano portato via una serie di oggetti molti dei quali risalenti al primo secolo dopo Cristo. I carabinieri della stazione di Ottaviano sono riusciti a fermare il mercato illegale dei reperti, seguendo le tracce lasciate da un 22enne pregiudicato di Pompei. Nella sua abitazione, durante una perquisizione dei militari, erano stati ritrovati alcuni oggetti di epoca romana, e per questo, le indagini si erano fatte più asfissianti. A pochi metri dall´abitazione del giovane indagato, i carabinieri sono riusciti a scoprire l´accesso alla villa rustica, nella
quale, questa mattina, i vigili del fuoco sono entrati con le bombole di ossigeno. Nel tunnel scavato dai tombaroli, infatti, era impossibile respirare, anche per la presenza di gas. Gli investigatori hanno recuperato una macina di epoca romana, oltre ad alcuni corni di animali, un´anfora del primo secolo dopo Cristo, ed altri oggetti che saranno repertati nelle prossime ore. E´ possibile, però, che buona parte del tesoro seppellito negli anni 50 sia già finito nelle ville di chi, da anni, alimenta l´attività illecita dei tombaroli.

ICE Seizes a Cultural Artifact Reported Stolen in Italy Almost 12 Years Ago

This from artdaily.org:

NEW YORK, NY.- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today seized a Pompeii wall panel fresco from a Manhattan auction house that was reported stolen in Italy 12 years ago. The fresco panel, which was the subject of an international search by INTERPOL, was located by the Art Loss Register of New York and brought to the attention of ICE and Italian Authorities. Italian authorities provided ICE agents via the ICE attaché in Rome with information and documents identifying the fresco panel as stolen and part of the cultural property of Italy. The panel, rectangular with a white background depicting a female minister, white wash on plaster with a modern wooden frame, was previously located at the excavation office in Pompeii and was reported stolen with five other fresco panels on June 26, 1997. The investigation revealed that, between 1903 and 1904, the Italian government authorized a farmer, Giuseppe De Martino, to restore his farmhouse, which was located on an archeological site in Boscoreale, province of Naples. During the restoration, six important frescos, originating from Pompeii were found. On July 12, 1957, the Government of Italy purchased the frescos. On June 26, 1997, after the completion of work to the excavation site, the Italian government observed that the six frescos were missing and subsequently reported the theft. The Carabinieri cultural patrimony unit previously recovered the other five of the six frescos. "We are pleased to assist in the recovery of this fresco panel. It completes the collection of the six panels reported stolen from the Italian government close to 12 years ago." said Peter J. Smith, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New York. "ICE applauds the ALR for coming forward with information on the whereabouts of this precious cultural artifact, which will soon be returned to the Italian government.

Reperti archeologi sequestrati in un albergo della Costiera

This from Metropolis Web. Just goes to show that you shouldn't put things on the internet if you don't want people to see them ...

Reperti archeologici sono stati sequestrati dalla guardia di Finanza di Salerno in una struttura turistico-alberghiera della costiera amalfitana. I militari della sezione operativa navale in collaborazione con la Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici per le Province di Salerno ed Avellino, hanno fatto irruzione nella struttura di localita ´Marmolada´ del comune di Ravello (Salerno), recuperando 48 reperti archeologici, in gran parte anfore romane, capitelli corinzi e sarcofagi del valore inestimabile. La scoperta è avvenuta attraverso la visione via web dove veniva pubblicizzata la struttura turistico-alberghiera. Il proprietario dell´immobile e il titolare della società che gestisce la struttura sono stati denunciati alla magistratura per aver violato la normativa riguardante il possesso di beni culturali che fanno parte del demanio o del patrimonio indisponibile dello Stato.

Visiting the Villa Sora

Jeremy Hartnett and I were in Campania with the ICCS students a couple of weeks ago, and - thanks to Christian Biggi and Sarah Court of the Herculaneum Conservation Project, and to volunteers from Gruppo Archeologico Vesuviano (GAV) - we got to take the students to the Villa Sora (see Sarah's earlier post about the Villa).

The Villa is right by the sea in Torre del Greco with views to Capri, and apparently was terraced over several levels. The small part that can be seen today was excavated in the 1990s and consists of a series of nicely-decorated rooms with lots of floral motifs that have been dated to the Tiberian period - although the decoration is clearly suffering from the elements, despite the roof put up after the excavations.Perhaps one of the things I found most interesting about the visit was the chance to see, and talk about, the impact of the eruption of AD 79 (you can see, for example, the photo below how the black fresco has turned yellow from the heat of the eruption), the problems of excavation, and the problems of conservation.

The villa is basically in a hole, located in the midst of a series of large greenhouses. The excavators were unable to excavate the parts of the villa nearer to the sea because train tracks pass by, cutting the villa in two. They can't excavate further inland, because the land owners won't permit it. So, the remains of the villa are isolated, and modern treasure-hunters have paid a visit. In the photo above you can see a ragged hole in the fresco in the top left corner - a small vignette was stolen from here. (The other more regular holes are from frescoes removed by the authorities.)

To visit the Villa Sora you need to book with GAV. Our coach was met by one of the GAV volunteers as we came off the autostrada and we were guided to the Villa. They have parking for cars, but there wasn't access for our coach which caused a few problems. We then had to walk through all the greenhouses to the villa, past a rather scarey series of chained dogs (I've never seen Jeremy run so fast!!) down to the villa. It was not an easy visit, honestly, but it was fun and I'm glad we did it. The two volunteers from GAV were fantastic; they couldn't have been more helpful and we had a great guided tour. I would recommend a visit - but not with a coach!

My thanks to ICCS students Staci Holloway and Elizabeth Salazar for providing the photos!

In the news this week ...

• A new museum, the ‘Museo pompeiano del Grand Tour’ will be opened next November on the second floor of the Palazzo de Fusco in modern Pompei. ‘Sarà un contenitore nel quale troveranno posto tutte le testimonianze culturali, dalla letteratura alla musica, dalla pittura alla scultura, alla poesia, alla fotografia e al cinema che dal 1860 a oggi hanno avuto Pompei sacra o archeologica quale tappa del percorso italiano di intellettuali, artisti, scrittori, politici, musicisti e religiosi.’ (Source) The museum is the combined initiative of the Università di Napoli Federico II, the Istituto Universitario Suor Orsola Benincasa and the città di Pompei.

• A Italian traveler was stopped at Florence airport and found to have ‘reperti archeologici’ from Herculaneum and Torre del Greco in her luggage – eight fragments of fresco from the Villa of the Papyri and Casa Sannitica at Herculaneum and the Villia Storia at Torre del Greco. She may face a fine of 5,000 Euro and 4 years in prison. (Source) More details to follow as and when they emerge …

• Guns (presumably disposed of by the Camorra) have been pulled from the river Sarno. (Source)

• Upcoming exhibitions in Campania:
  ‘Alla corte di Vanvitelli’ at the Palace of Caserta (Vanvitelli was the architect who designed the palace and many other buildings for the Bourbons), which starts tomorrow;
  ‘La pittura pompeiana’ at the Museo Nazionale Archeologico at Naples – basically the reopening of all the rooms with frescos (at last!!), which have been newly restored, which opens on 29th April.
  ‘Gemito’ at Villa Pignatelli (work of the sculptor Gemito active at Naples in the 19th century).

Exhibitions: L'arma per L'arte

Stolen Italian antiquities and artworks are about to go on display in Rome, Naples and Florence as part of celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Carabinieri division responsible for tracking them down.

In Naples, the exhibition is entitled 'Archeologia che torna' and will take place in the Palazzo Reale from 8th May until 30th September. As well as stolen archaeological finds it will feature objects from clandestine excavations. A large number are southern Italian or Etruscan in origin, their dates range from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD. Objects from Pompeii will include the fresco of a 'female figure' stolen from the House of Fabius Rufus around 1975 and recovered in 2008 and the double bronze herm (faun and Satyr) stolen in 1988 and recovered just a few months later.

In Rome, the Castel Sant'Angelo will host 'Antologia di meraviglie' from 10th September 2009 to 30th January 2010.
In Florence, 'Aspetti del sacro' can be seen in the Sala Bianca of the Galleria Palatina at Palazzo Pitti from 21st November 2009 until 6th April 2010.

I don't have any more time today to share the details with you, but you can read more about the exhibitions here:

• 1969 – 2009: 40 anni di attività del Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale. The illustration above is from this site.
• I Carabinieri “spada a difesa dei musei”.

Stolen Boscoreale fresco, for the third time

More details about the Boscoreale fresco stolen at an unknown time (still can’t believe that …) have emerged (see my previous posts) . Matteo Della Corte described the fresco in the Notizie degli Scavi in 1921. It was discovered in room 22 of the Villa of Asellius, which was located only a short distance from the Pisanella Villa. Both villas were discovered on land owned by Giuseppe De Martino and were excavated by Vincenzo De Prisco (the man who sold the Pisanella silver to the Louvre).

The Villa of Asellius was so-named after the discovery of a bronze seal bearing the name ‘Asellius’; it is claimed that Asellius was either the owner or steward of the villa. Apparently the villa was square in plan. It has been described as one of the most interesting working villas found in the territory of Boscoreale because – unlike other villas in this area – it lacked areas both for storing foodstuffs and for processing them. All the rooms around the large peristyle were decorated with wall-paintings and there was a bath complex. The villa was excavated over a two-year period, stripped of its finds and paintings, and reburied. Finds were scarce (a few coins, some pottery and a few silver and bronze vessels) and it is thought that the villa had already been explored by salvagers in ancient times. Another fresco from this villa was also stolen at an unknown time, but was recovered several years ago. (Source). There's an article about the villa and its paintings by Greta Stefani ('Boscoreale: la Villa di Asellius e le sue pitture') in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani IX (1998), 41ff.

The stolen fresco from Boscoreale, again

Here are some more details about the fresco recovered in London (see my post of Monday 16th February). The fresco was found during the excavation of the Villa of Asellio, to the north of Pompeii (i.e. Boscoreale), between 1903 and 1904. It was located in a room next to the torcularium of the villa. The fresco depicts Bacchus (appropriate given its location!) pouring wine on an altar. Next to him is a basket of grapes.

The fresco found its way to the London gallery last October. Its last owner, realising that it was an illegally exported antiquity, decided to give it back to Italy. The fresco is valued at 400,000 EUROS.

Source of information and additional photo of Carabinieri posing with fresco(!).

Stolen fresco found in London gallery!

A fresco stolen from the storerooms of Pompeii has been found in a London art gallery and returned to the Italian embassy in London. The fresco is apparently from a villa at Boscoreale. Read for yourselves the article in Il Messaggero. The really weird thing is that no-one knows WHEN the fresco was actually stolen! Which just goes to show how much stuff there is in the storerooms and how hard it is to keep track of it. Don't even get me started …