"Pompeii continues to amaze with its discoveries, and it will remain so for many years to come with twenty hectares still to be excavated".
The minister of culture Dario Franceschini applauds the new discovery of Pompeii, where in the excavations of the villa of Civita Giuliana a precious and unique ceremonial chariot was found that the Roman world reserved for the elites.
And it underlines the scientific importance of the discovery, but also its close link with the fight against cultural piracy and trafficking in cultural goods.
A really hot topic, the minister told ANSA, "and which will be central to the next G20 of culture hosted in Rome".
Because the story of this umpteenth discovery, Franceschini points out, is also the story of the commitment of the Torre Annunziata prosecutor's office and the carabinieri of cultural heritage who have always supported the magistrates.
The amazing pilentum, decorated in bronze and tin, "was saved by a whisker from the grave robbers", the outgoing director of the Parco Massimo Osanna had explained before him.
And another chariot - who knows perhaps equally important for the knowledge of the ancient world - has unfortunately been lost (it emerged from the process currently underway) found and resold by grave robbers, who before the intervention of the police had dug dozens and dozens meters of tunnels, raiding and devastating a beautiful part of this large Roman villa at the gates of Pompeii.
"An applause and a thank you - he concludes - to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, to the Public Prosecutor of Torre Annunziata and to the Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection unit for their collaboration that prevented such extraordinary finds from being stolen and illegally placed on the market".
An important discovery, adds the minister, "because it demonstrates that enhancement can be done, tourists can be attracted from all over the world and at the same time research, training and studies can be carried out, the new director Gabriel Zuchtriegel will enhance this commitment".