Rare Peek At Riches Of Past In Rome.

HISTORICAL archaeology; ARCHAEOLOGICAL site location; ROMAN forums; COURTS

For decades now, excavations in the Roman Forum and on the Palatine Hill have yielded grand halls and imperial residences with fanciful frescoes and graceful stucco reliefs. Often, after the initial news media fanfare that usually accompanies such finds and their restoration, many of the ancient habitats have returned to the obscurity from which they emerged. There just aren't enough custodians to monitor these important archaeological sites, and so they are off limits to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]