STATEMENT ON ARTIFACTS DISCOVERED IN VATICAN CITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 12, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon a statement was released by Archbishop Francesco Marchisano, president of the Permanent Commission for the Care of Historical and Artistic Monuments of the Holy See, in answer to journalists who have asked about the construction of a new parking lot in Vatican City and the discovery, on the work site, of archeological artifacts.

He indicated that he had personally investigated the site on March 10 and closely examined the work accomplished and the archeological finds. He added that initial research through soil studies had been undertaken to see if there were indications of important artifacts on the site. "Only the excavation brought to light several artifacts, including two sarcophagi, one pagan and one Christian, several floor mosaics of modest dimensions, and several terracotta artifacts such as two half-buried amphorae that I was able to see."
Archbishop Marchisano noted that, given his many years experience in works executed in Christian catacombs both in and near Rome, he was "very impressed by the care and attention given during the research as soon as the artifacts were found in a corner of the future parking lot."

He observed that this could be "a very small funeral site, perhaps of a few families. All archeological materials that come from the digging, underdone with extreme care, will be preserved in the Vatican Museums and made available to specialists and to all who will visit the Museums."

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