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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806773

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This image shows a printed article from the Harvard Gazette dated October 22, 1976. The article is titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition." The content discusses the discovery of an elaborately decorated, subterranean Roman tomb from the fourth century A.D. in Sardis, Turkey, by a joint expedition of Harvard and Cornell Universities.

The article details the unexpected discovery of the tomb during a "modest" research program. Expedition members, including David G. Mitten, James Loeb Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology, and Eric Freedman, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, found the tomb while surveying a tobacco field. The tomb has a barrel-vaulted chamber with brightly painted frescoes depicting various scenes, including doves, peacocks, flowers, and baskets of fruit in blue, purple, red, and green hues. A Latin inscription on the wall references Chrysantios, a guild member in the Imperial arms factory at Sardis in the early fourth century.

The article also mentions past discoveries at Sardis, such as a nearly impregnable fortress, an early Christian basilica dating from 350 A.D., a Lydian gymnasium complex, and important Lydian sculptures. The expedition's work at Sardis covered various periods of its history, including its Lydian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman phases.

The article credits Mr. Crawford H. Greenewalt, Jr., as the expedition field director, and includes names of other staff members and their affiliations. It also mentions that the expedition was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and matching funds from several foundations and individual donors.

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The image is a printed article from the Harvard Gazette dated October 22, 1976. The article is titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition." It discusses the discovery of an elaborately decorated, subterranean Roman tomb from the fourth century A.D. during an archaeological expedition at Sardis in western Turkey. The tomb was found by David G. Mitten and Eric Freedman while they were surveying part of the site. The article goes on to describe the tomb's features, including brightly painted frescoes on the walls and ceiling, and mentions other archaeological findings and the historical significance of Sardis. The article also credits the field director, Crawford H. Greenewalt, Jr., and other staff members involved in the expedition. The text is arranged in three columns, with a header at the top indicating the source and date of the article.

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The image depicts a page from a newspaper or magazine, dated October 22, 1976, and published by Harvard Gazette. The headline reads "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition." The article discusses the discovery of an elaborately decorated subterranean Roman tomb from the sixth and seventh centuries A.D. in Sardis, Turkey. The tomb was uncovered by the Harvard-Cornell expedition during the summer. The article provides details about the tomb's construction, including its size, the materials used, and the decorative elements found within. It also mentions the significance of the discovery and the ongoing research being conducted by the expedition team. The article is accompanied by a photograph of the tomb's interior, showcasing the intricate frescoes and architectural features.

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The image is a page from a document or a newspaper article. It contains text that discusses the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Turkey by a Harvard-Cornell expedition. The article provides details about the tomb's discovery, its contents, and the significance of the find. It also mentions the expedition's leaders, funding sources, and the involvement of various institutions and individuals. The text is organized in paragraphs and includes dates, names, and descriptions of the archaeological findings. The page has a beige background with a border, and there are two holes on the right side, possibly for binding or filing purposes.

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The image shows a scanned page from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976, featuring an article titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition." The article details the discovery of an elaborately decorated, subterranean tomb in Sardis, Turkey, by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition.

Key Details from the Image:

  1. Headline and Context:

    • The headline announces the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Sardis, Turkey, by a Harvard-Cornell expedition.
    • Sardis is described as the legendary capital of the Lydian kingdom, located in western Turkey.
  2. Discovery Details:

    • The tomb was unearthed during the summer by the joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition.
    • The discovery was made unexpectedly while surveying part of the Sardis site.
    • The tomb is described as an elaborately decorated, subterranean structure, with a large barrel-vaulted chamber and brightly painted frescoes on the walls.
  3. Description of the Tomb:

    • Structure: The tomb features a large barrel-vaulted chamber with painted frescoes in blue, white, and green.
    • Frescoes: The walls are adorned with frescoes, including a red wall with a wreath on one side and a painted inscription. The frescoes depict floral designs, birds, and a Latin inscription commemorating Chrysanus, a guild member in the Imperial arms factory established at Sardis in the early fourth century A.D.
    • Ceiling: The ceiling is painted plaster, much of which has eroded over time.
    • Floor: The floor of the tomb is covered with a layer of earth eight feet thick, containing tobacco debris that may fill the tomb with Roman tombstones.
  4. Historical Significance:

    • The tomb is identified as the best-preserved Roman tomb yet found at Sardis.
    • The discovery confirms the existence of the Roman arms factory at Sardis in the fourth century A.D.
    • The tomb is part of a larger archaeological site, with the expedition also uncovering other significant structures, such as a Roman marble synagogue and a nearly impregnable fortress.
  5. Expedition Team and Funding:

    • The expedition was led by David G. Mitten, James Loeb Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology at Harvard.
    • The team included notable individuals such as Elizabeth Combett, John E. Hudson, and George Arthur Plimpton.
    • Funding for the expedition was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, along with matching funds from several foundations and individual donors.
    • Staff members included representatives from institutions such as the Fogg Art Museum, the University of California, and the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
  6. Archaeological Context:

    • Sardis is noted for its long history, serving as a significant city in different periods, including Lydian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman times.
    • The tomb’s location and design provide valuable insights into Roman burial practices and the cultural significance of Sardis during the Roman period.

Visual Layout:

  • The article is formatted in a standard newspaper style, with a clear headline, subheadings, and body text.
  • The text is dense and informative, providing a detailed account of the discovery, its significance, and the expedition’s efforts.
  • The page appears to be part of a larger publication, as indicated by the header "Harvard Gazette" and the date "October 22, 1976."

Overall Impression:

The image captures a significant archaeological discovery, highlighting the collaborative efforts of Harvard and Cornell University in uncovering and preserving an important piece of Roman history in Turkey. The article emphasizes the historical and cultural value of the tomb and the broader context of Sardis as a historically rich site.

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The image displays a scanned copy of a newspaper article from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976. The article is titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition" and features a beige background with black text.

  • Title and Date
    • The title of the article is prominently displayed at the top of the page.
    • The date of the article is listed below the title as "October 22, 1976."
  • Article Content
    • The article discusses the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Turkey by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition.
    • The tomb was found to be approximately 800 feet further north than previously thought.
    • The expedition members had planned only a "modest" program of research and study in 1976, the twentieth season of work at Sardis.
    • While surveying part of the site one day, however, David G. Mitten, James Lesh Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology, and Eric Freedman, graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, came across a square hole in the middle of a tobacco field.
    • After descending into the hole, they stood in a large barrel-vaulted chamber. Brightly painted frescoes covered the walls - the ceiling, depicting doves, peacocks, flowers, and baskets of fruit in blue, purple, red and green.
    • A wreath on one wall highlighted the paradise-like mural, framing a Latin inscription painted in crimson. The message commemorates Chrysanthios, a guild member in the Imperial arms factory established at Sardis in the early fourth century A.D.
    • Much of the ceiling's painted plaster has fallen, composing part of the earthy debris that covers the floor of the tomb. After excavation, a tomb with walls about eight feet high, ten feet wide, and twelve feet in length will emerge, estimates Elizabeth Gombosi of the Fogg Art Museum, the expedition photographer.
    • Examination of the fresco was postponed until next year, because no trained conservator had accompanied the expedition this season. At least three similar tombs - identified by their projecting vaulted roofs in the same tobacco field - will also be explored when the expedition returns. The entire valley may be filled with Roman tombs, according to Crawford H. Greenewalt, Jr. (University of California, Berkeley), the expedition field director.
    • The tomb's inscription helps confirm the existence of the Roman arms factory at Sardis in the fourth century A.D. The tomb is also the best preserved Roman tomb yet found at Sardis.
    • Messrs. Mitten and Freedman had been performing preliminary work for a topographical survey when they stumbled onto the tomb. Results of that survey showed that Sardis - in its Lydian period, during the sixth and seventh centuries B.C. - extended 800 feet further north than previously thought.
    • Heaps of Lydian pot shards and burnt animal bones were found 20 feet beneath the plain in that northern edge, at the bottom of a recently drilled artisan well. Fortunately, the well was drilled in the orchard of an expedition worker. Knowing the historic value of the find, he promptly reported it, Mr. Greenewalt said. Mr. Mitten and Eric Freedman, a Kress Fellow, discovered that the ancient city had been built on huge terraces. They also explored a small sanctuary site in the cotton fields outside the city limits, where they found fragments of an archaic Ionic col- umn and other votive dedications from the time of Croesus.
    • Past Sardis expedition discoveries include, among others, part of a nearly impregnable fortress once admired by Alexander the Great; an early Christian basilica dating from 350 A.D., a Lydian gymnasi- um complex (including one of the largest known ancient synagogues), around which a Roman Marble Art (a marble statue way) was later built; and important Lydian sculptures. A full restoration of the gymnasium complex was completed in 1973 after almost ten years of work.
    • Sardis was a Lydian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman city in different periods of its long history, as well as having been one of St. John's Seven Churches of Asia. It housed a sizable Christian community during Constantinean times.
    • Mr. Greenewalt succeeded George M.A.
  • Author and Publication Information
    • The article was written by an unknown author.
    • The publication information is not provided in the image.

The article provides a detailed account of the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Turkey by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition. The tomb was found to be approximately 800 feet further north than previously thought, and it contains a large barrel-vaulted chamber with brightly painted frescoes. The expedition members had planned only a "modest" program of research and study in 1976, but they stumbled upon the tomb while performing preliminary work for a topographical survey. The tomb is also the best preserved Roman tomb yet found at Sardis, and it provides valuable insights into the history of the region.

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The image depicts a scanned newspaper clipping from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976. The article, titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition," is presented on a beige background with a gray border.

Article Content:

The article discusses the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Sardis, Turkey, by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition. The tomb, dating back to the fourth century A.D., was uncovered during the summer of 1976. The expedition members had planned only a modest program of research and study in 1976, but their findings exceeded expectations.

Key Discoveries:

  • The tomb was found in a large barrel-vaulted chamber, brightly painted in frescoes depicting walls and ceiling, featuring flowers, baskets of fruit, purple, red, and green.
  • A wreath on the upper wall highlighted the paradise-like mural, framing a Latin inscription painted in crimson.
  • The message commemorates Chrysanthos, a guild member in the imperial arms factory established at Sardis in the early fourth century A.D.
  • Much of the ceiling's painted plaster has fallen, composing part of the earthy debris that covers the floor of the tomb.
  • After excavation, a tomb with walls about eight feet high and ten feet wide, and twelve feet in length will emerge, estimates Elizabeth Gombosi of the Fogg Art Museum, the expedition epigrapher.
  • Examination of the debris was postponed until next year, because no trained conservateur had accompanied the expedition this season.
  • At least three similar tombs identified by their protruding vaulted roofs in the same tobacco field will also be explored when the expedition resumes.
  • The entire valley that the tobacco field occupies may be filled with Roman tombs, according to Crawford H. Greenewalt, Jr. (University of California, Berkeley), the expedition field director.
  • The tomb's inscription helps confirm the existence of the Roman arms factory at Sardis in the fourth century A.D.
  • The tomb is also the best preserved Roman tomb yet found at Sardis.
  • Mitten and Freedman had been performing preliminary work for a topographical survey when they stumbled onto the tomb.
  • Results of that survey showed that Sardis - in its Lydian period, during the sixth and seventh centuries B.C. - extended 800 feet further north than previously thought.
  • Heaps of Lydian pot shards and burnt animal bones were found 20 feet beneath the plain in that northern edge, at the bottom of a recently drilled artesian well.
  • Fortunately, the well was drilled in the orchard of an expedition worker.
  • Knowing the historic value of the find, he promptly reported it, Mr. Greenewalt said.
  • Mr. Mitten dated earth from the well to the sixth century B.C.
  • Searching inch by inch over many acres, Mr. Mitten and Eric Rostetter, a West Feliciana, La., high school student, discovered that the ancient city had plored a small sanctuary site in the cotton fields outside the city limits, where they found fragments of an archaic column and other votive dedications from the time of Croesus.
  • Past Sardis expedition discoveries include, among others, part of a nearly impregnable fortress once admired by Alexander the Great, an early Christian basilica dating from 350 A.D., a Lydian gymnasium complex (including one of the largest known ancient synagogues), around which a Roman Marble Court (a marble entrance way) was later built; and important Lydian sculptures.
  • A full restoration of the gymnasium complex was completed in 1973 after almost ten years of work.
  • Sardis was a Lydian, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman city in different periods of its long history, as well as having been one of St. John's Seven Churches of Asia.
  • It housed a sizable Christian community during Constantinian times.
  • Mr. Greenewalt succeeded George M.A.

Conclusion:

The article provides a detailed account of the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Sardis, Turkey, by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition. The tomb, dating back to the fourth century A.D., was found in a large barrel-vaulted chamber, brightly painted in frescoes depicting walls and ceiling. The discovery highlights the importance of the site and the significance of the tomb in understanding the history of the region.

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The image depicts a photocopy of an article from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976. The article is titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition" and features a beige background with black text.

Key Features:

  • Title: "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition"
  • Date: October 22, 1976
  • Publication: Harvard Gazette
  • Background: Beige
  • Text Color: Black

Article Content:

The article discusses the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Sardis, Turkey, by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition. The tomb is described as being from the fourth century A.D. and containing a marble sarcophagus with intricate carvings.

Visual Elements:

  • The article is presented on a beige background, which provides a neutral and clean contrast to the black text.
  • The text is arranged in a clear and readable format, with headings and paragraphs that facilitate easy comprehension.

Overall Impression:

The image effectively conveys the content and tone of the article, providing a clear and concise summary of the discovery of the ancient Roman tomb. The use of a beige background and black text creates a visually appealing and easy-to-read format.

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The image presents a scanned or photographed page from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976. The article is titled "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition."

Page Details:

  • The page is white with black text.
  • It features two columns of text.
  • The title is prominently displayed at the top.

Content:

  • The article discusses the discovery of an ancient Roman tomb in Turkey by a Harvard-Cornell expedition.
  • The tomb was found in Sardis, western Turkey, and is believed to date back to the fourth century A.D.
  • The article provides details about the tomb's architecture, including its large barrel-vaulted chamber and brightly painted walls.
  • It also mentions that the tomb's inscription helps confirm the existence of the Roman arms factory at Sardis in the fourth century A.D.

Physical Characteristics:

  • The page appears to be placed on a brown paper or cardboard background.
  • There are two holes punched in the right margin of the page, suggesting that it was once part of a binder or folder.

Overall:

  • The image provides a clear and detailed view of the article, allowing readers to learn about the discovery of the ancient Roman tomb in Turkey.

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The image is of a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Gazette, dated October 22, 1976. The headline reads "Ancient Roman Tomb Unearthed in Turkey by Harvard-Cornell Expedition." The article discusses the discovery of a richly decorated Roman tomb from the fourth century A.D. in Sardis, Turkey. The excavation was conducted by a joint Harvard-Cornell University expedition during the summer.

Key points from the article include:

  1. Discovery and Location: The tomb was found in the ancient capital of the legendary King Croesus of Lydia, now part of Turkey.

  2. Decorations and Findings:

    • The tomb had painted frescoes with bright colors depicting scenes of hunting and mythology.
    • A paradise-like mural with Latin inscriptions was found, possibly from the time of Constantine.
    • The tomb is significant for its early Christian artifacts, indicating it may have been a Christian burial site.
  3. Expedition Details:

    • The expedition was led by George M.A. Hanfmann, Professor of Archaeology, and John Hudson, with Eric Hastings as field director.
    • The tomb was discovered by Andrew Ramage and Fikret K. Yegül.
    • The tomb's dimensions are approximately 800 feet further west than previously known, with a depth of 20 feet below the surface.
  4. Historical Context:

    • Sardis was a Lydian city, later under Persian and Macedonian rule, and eventually became a Roman provincial capital.
    • The city was significant during the early Christian era, with St. John's Book of Revelation mentioning it.
  5. Future Plans:

    • The expedition plans to continue exploring the tomb and surrounding areas, with the possibility of finding more Roman tombs.
    • The team will also conduct a topographical survey of the site.

The article highlights the historical and archaeological significance of the discovery, providing insights into the early Christian period and Roman influence in the region.