Mound Hacker-Herculaneum, Italy

My current site-specific art project is intervening in the time lines of actual Tells [mounds] and archaeological sites around the Mediterranean. I am visiting Herculaneum.

It is not what imagined.

It is cloudy and a bit drizzling as we walk down words on a paved path into the small town of Herculaneum.

The sea is blue as ever and the dark cypress trees make the sky look pale.

I notice that there are two layers of housing: the ancestors who lived once on the ground floor at sea level.

New life is seated on a cemetery.

It does not feel like any other archaeological site I ever visited before. It is more like a ghost town – not remains.

I sense the agony.

My hand searches the shards at the depths of my bag, and chooses one without seeing.

I lay a ceramic key in a small wall opening that was once lavishly covered with colorful tiles.

It feels humble and not too intrusive.

It feels as if I am abandoning a piece of me behind.

An hour later it is still there.

It is sheltered from the rain.

I peek through glass doors and see piles of ceramic shards and working tools.

A key to Alexandria Library is left with gratitude on the doorstepfor the archaeologists working at the site.

More here:

Mound hacker – the concept of this going art project,

Mound hacker- Tel Yokneam,

Mound Hacker‏-Castel dell Ovo, Naples, Italy

Mound hacker-Naples National Archaeological Museum, Italy

Mound hacker- Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum, Italy

 

4 Responses

  1. i wonder if any of the dudes working there will be curious by your key, or will it find its way into one of the bags and roll onwards… the journey continues!
    chag sameach, spring and liberty to all!

  2. Nona, thank you for sharing – your project is very interesting and somewhat timeless .
    I like it!
    I’ll follow your journey.

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