"Indeed, the ink was almost gone and the plaster was seriously
damaged. But infrared reflectography has succeed in recovering that
lost inscription, showing that we can apply this technology to other
sites in Herculaneum and Pompeii," Vicari said.
The inscription below was another decree against garbage dumping in the
area around the water tank. It was issued by two joint magistrates,
Rufellius Romanus and Tetteius Severus.
"The authorities were very strict" said Vicari. "Transgressors, if free citizens, would have had to pay a fine. Lashes were reserved for slaves who infringed the rule."
Overlooking the Bay of Naples, Herculaneum was home to a wealthy elite, a cluster of fabulous villas and gardens.
"The town's social makeup was rather different from Pompeii's. But
the fact that 'no dumping' decrees were repeated over and over on the
board, means that this was a serious problem in the town," Herculaneum scholar Mario Pagano told Discovery News.
Vicari also found a third inscription, which has yet to be
decoded. Most likely, it was made by a passer-by, as the water tank was close to a market, Vicari said.
"This is important research," said Pagano. "Inscriptions in Pompeii abound, but they consist mainly of electoral notices. The finding in
Herculaneum, on the contrary, is rather unique."
