After presentation of the finds at five scholarly conferences, the impact of the findings is spreading rapidly among archaeologists, art historians, remote-sensing specialists, and garden historians. A master planning effort is now under way to integrate this and other recent discoveries in ancient Stabiae into a new economic development plan associated with infrastructure development in the Bay of Naples. Cornell landscape architecture faculty member Deni Ruggieri and Gleason are actively participating in this process.
impact statement issue
During engineering efforts to relieve the weight on a steep slope affected by landslides, the soprintendenza uncovered a monumental garden under the volcanic ash. Kathryn Gleason was called in, as a specialist on ancient garden archaeology, to document the site as part of a larger team of archaeologists from the University of Maryland and other institutions. The local population and tourists internationally (a portion of the 2.6 million tourists to Pompeii annually)—in addition to scholarly communities—will benefit from the study and presentation of this dramatic garden.
impact statement response
2010 marks the fourth and final season of documentation and study. We are now developing plans for the presentation of the site to tourists and school groups.
impact statement summary
The Villa Arianna Project is an effort of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation and the Soprintendenza di Pompeii to study and develop this dramatic ancient villa as part of a master plan for economic development of Castellammare di Stabia, an economically struggling city in the Bay of Naples.
Other federal research funding
CU/Advance
Other federal funding
National Science Foundation
Other private funding
Society for the Humanities, Hirsch Foundation, University of Maryland grants and donations
