Herculaneum's ancient beach reopens, uncovering Roman history

After nearly two thousand years since Mount Vesuvius's eruption, a unique site in Italy's Herculaneum has been reopened to tourists. "It was not only a restoration work but also a great research work," admitted Francesco Sirano, director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, as quoted by CNN.

Herculaneum is a city in Campania located near Mount Vesuvius. On August 24, 79 AD, it was destroyed during the eruption, along with Pompeii and Stabiae. During the eruption, over 300 people attempted to take shelter there. Unfortunately, most of them did not survive.

Although archaeological work continues in many historical cities around Mount Vesuvius, they are open to tourists. Travelers eagerly visit the areas of Pompeii and Herculaneum not only for the ruins of houses and temples but also for the grounds of Vesuvius National Park, which features numerous hiking trails leading to the summit of the crater. The area has been enriched with a new, interesting site for tourists.

It is an ancient beach that has been opened in Herculaneum. At the opening ceremony, Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano emphasized that restoring this site aims to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of ancient Roman history and to revitalize the cultural heritage of the region.

"In the budget law we have refinanced the excavations and there are construction sites that are active like never before and are revealing new treasures, which fuel the activity of scholars," said Gennaro Sangiuliano, as quoted by CNN.

It is worth noting that the new attraction is not a typical beach intended for sunbathing and water sports. It is a site designed for walks on black volcanic sand.

Work on making the ancient beach accessible to tourists lasted three years, but archaeologists had been active in the area much earlier. "It was not only a restoration work but also a great research work" said Francesco Sirano, as quoted by CNN.

Human remains were discovered during excavations in the 1980s and 1990s. Skeletons were found both in stone hangars and on the beach itself. One of the most spectacular discoveries was made in 2021 when the skeleton of a man about 40 was found.

Source: CNN/The Guardian