The wood that did not burn in Herculaneum: chests, cradles and tables that were saved from the lava of Vesuvius are exhibited

The ancient Roman city of Herculaneum (south), together with Pompeii and other cities buried by the eruption of Vesuvius two millennia ago, exhibits numerous wooden furnishings, such as chests, cribs and tables, survivors of the lava and which offer new information on the habits and customs of its inhabitants.

He does it at the fair “Matter: the wood that did not burn in Herculaneum”visible throughout the next year, until 31 December 2023, in the sumptuous complex of the Reggia di Portici, south of Naples (South)at the foot of this volcano.

The “extraordinary historical and scientific value” of the Herculaneum woods “will make the Royal Palace of Portici one of the most interesting exhibition centers on the national and international cultural scene”, said the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi.

The city, like Pompeii or Oplontis, It was devastated in 79 AD by the eruption of Vesuvius.but some furniture and utensils have survived the passage of time buried under a 20-meter layer of pyroplastic material, charred but not burned.

“Herculaneum preserves an absolutely unique heritage of wooden objects, ranging from accessories such as doors, windows, partitions, to furniture, such as wardrobes, chests, tabernacles, beds and tables”, reads a note from the archaeological park.

They are objects which curiously preserve their original morphology and which allow the visitor to understand the way of life of those Romans, thanks to the meticulous work of workers, restorers and archaeologists who work to shed light on this site.

a return to history

Among the pieces that can be seen for the first time, the wooden ceiling of the so-called Casa del Rilievo Telefo stands out, as well as the ivory furniture and cutlery of the Villa dei Papiri.

Furthermore, it is partly a sensory exhibition itinerary, since the first thing the visitor will experience is a corridor of lights and sounds that evokes the destructive force of the eruption.

Planks and veneers of untreated wood are then shown to explain what the ancient Romans called “materia”, the untreated raw material, as well as the tools with which they built these artifacts.

Wooden objects “offer a very rare opportunity to recreate ancient carpentry and joinery techniques“, they detailed from the Archaeological Park.

The Herculaneum exhibition, excavated between the 80s and 90sThus it becomes yet another proof of that city’s way of life, while nearby Pompeii often dazzles with its new underground finds.

However, the Herculaneum team has now decided to pay special attention to a precious and fundamental material such as wood in the development and rise of the Roman Empire.

“There are a thousand uses of trees, without which it would not be possible to live. With the tree we cross the seas and bring some lands closer to others. With the tree we build houses”, wrote Pliny the Elder at the time, who is believed to have died during the tragedy.

EFE extension