Scientists have never found such a richly decorated specimen – on a four-wheeled carriage there are decorative elements on an erotic theme, traces of reins, pillows and even an imprint of an ear of wheat have been preserved.
“Pompeii continues to amaze us and we will conduct research for many more years, excavations are being carried out on an area of 20 hectares, but, above all, this find indicates that we can expand the complex, attract even more tourists from all over the world and at the same time conduct research and training”.
On the same site, located behind the ancient fence of the city, archaeologists have previously discovered the remains of three horses. Researchers speculate that the carriage may have been used during religious processions dedicated to Ceres, the goddess of fertility, or Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, or for wedding ceremonies in an aristocratic wealthy family.
Specialists of various profiles took part in the excavations, since the operation was fraught with technical difficulties – the wagon was found at a depth of six meters in the area where modern buildings stand today.
The excavations are also carried out with the assistance of the police in the framework of the fight against the smuggling of cultural property. Earlier in the area, thieves dug several tunnels to rob an ancient Roman villa. Two residents of houses located at the site of the archaeological survey are under investigation, they are suspected of building a network of tunnels more than 80 meters long.