Pompeii Suffers an Archeological Disaster

People walk on the Via dell'Abbondanza, one of the main streets of the archaeological site of Pompeii, in which the Gladiator domus, a house of Roman age, collapsed on November 6, 2010. The destruction of the house has led to an uproar in Italy with conservationists accusing politicians of neglecting the 2000-year-old site.

Tourists visit the archaeological site of Pompeii where the Gladiator domus, a house of Roman age, collapsed on November 6, 2010. The city, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites and is visited everyday by more than 6000 tourists. Pompeii, located south of Rome, was partially buried under volcanic ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, preserving artifacts from the era as well as forming macabre casts for its fatalities.

Workers carry equipment in order to secure the passage to the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii. Known officially by its Latin name "Schola Armaturarum Juventus Pompeiani, the house was not officially open to the public, though tourists were able to see it from the outside.

This picture shows the ruins of the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii after the house of Roman age collapsed. Pompeii was destroyed in A.D. 79 by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. But the ash also helped preserve Pompeii's treasures, providing precious information about what life was like in the ancient world.

This picture shows the ruins of the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii after the house collapsed. The gladiators' house was believed to have been built near the end of Pompeii's life. It was partially destroyed during World War II, and the roof and some of the walls had been rebuilt.

Workers seal the passage to the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii in order to stop photographers and cameramen from taking images.

A worker walks past the ruins of the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii.

People look at the ruins of the Gladiator domus in the archeological site of Pompeii.

The resin cast of a Pompeii man who appears to be holding his hand over his mouth to avoid suffocation during the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 C.E sits in a gallery at the Singapore National Museum on October 4, 2010. The cast is part of an exhibition opening on October 16 showcasing the daily life of the town just before the disaster.