Vatican car park construction reveals Neronian necropolis

Tombs from the time of the Roman emperor Nero have been unearthed as the Vatican tried to clear space for a multi-level underground car park. Digging for the 300-space car park began several months ago, but Vatican officials are now rethinking the project after the remains of the nearly 2,000-year-old necropolis were unearthed. Among the graves is the tombstone of Nero's secretary, along with well-preserved urns and amphorae.

Officials denied that the plans for the car park would threaten the discovery.

"Of course, no one will destroy any archaeological finds," said Monsignor Francesco Marchisano, the head of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology.

Other Vatican officials, desperate to "decongest" the Vatican, told the newspaper la Repubblica that ancient ruins were uncovered every time digging began in Italy. In this case they "did not seem that important", they said, and should not prevent the car park from being built. . .

Before the 2000 Jubilee, the Pope blessed a 900-space car-and-coach park on the Janiculum Hill, next to the Vatican. Before it could be completed, the frescoed walls of a second-century villa had had to be removed by the Italian culture ministry.

Archaeological experts from the Vatican Museum were called in to advise on the new car park in late February, reportedly when security guards stopped a lorry leaving the building site loaded with amphorae and tombstones from the necropolis, inscribed in Latin.

The Vatican has not always had an admirable record when it comes to preservation of ancient sites, especially when non-Christian.

Posted by David on March 11, 2003 11:31 AM