Pompei's excavation model and its impact on Rome's urban archaeology

The excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum, while revealing incredible treasures, also had negative consequences. They exposed ancient remains to air and threats, and created an idealized image of a 'pure' antiquity, contrasting with previous eras where ancient structures were reused and integrated into contemporary life. This led to a movement to 'purify' major ancient sites, especially in Rome. After the papacy lost power, the French began demolitions and isolations that continued for about 150 years, culminating under Mussolini's regime. Today, these excavations remain isolated from the living city, with signs like 'Archaeological Zone / Do Not Throw Rubbish' highlighting the disconnect. Solutions such as reusing ancient spaces or covering excavations with underground structures were proposed by Giuseppe Valadier in the early 19th century but remain unimplemented.