Maplewood Professor Digs Italy—Literally

It's a long way from Springfield Avenue in Maplewood to the Flaminian Way in Umbria, Italy, but it's a trip John Muccigrosso has made every summer for the past three years.

On June 6, Muccigrosso will pack up his picks and head for Umbria with 12 students from Drew University in Madison, where he is a professor of classics. There, they will continue to unearth treasures from a small settlement that existed on the Roman road, the Via Flaminia, in about 200 B.C.

[Muccigrosso, by the way, was owner of the now defunct Cafe Meow with wife and chef Christine Muccigrosso. Mrs. Muccigrosso has now launched a new business The Clutter Clinic.]

"We're looking at how the Romans developed the area, it's importance to Rome." Muccigrosso explained that one interesting thing about the settlement was the fact that it completely disappeared at some point to be replaced by farmland. Why? The answer is still unknown but Muccigrosso is hoping the dig will unearth the answer.

The Flaminian is much less famous than the well-known Appian Way, which travels south to Brindisi. Unlike Via Appia, Via Flaminia travels north from Rome to the Adriatic and ultimately back inland and across the Alps.

A summer in Italy. Sounds like a dream, right? "It's hot, sweaty, filthy work," said Muccigrosso. But still, "I've got nothing to complain about. It's hard work but—you're in Italy!"

"There are bugs, yes. But the food is good. The living is good. I'm not going to lie to you."

It's enough to make one start studying Latin.