WILL-TV produces documentary on dig

"Vanished Rome," a one-hour documentary about the attempt by UI
researchers, students and others to uncover the urban fabric of Rome,
will be broadcast on WILL-TV (Channel 12) at 8 p.m. May 12.

Led by Eric Hostetter, UI professor of art and of classics, the team is
working to open a new and important window on more than 500 years of
Roman life, commerce and architecture.

Channel 12 executive producer Jack Kelly and videographer Jeff Cunningham
spent 20 days in Rome last summer researching and filming the documentary,
which received partial funding from the New York City-based Abraham
Foundation. The film's narrator is David Knight, head of the UI theater
department.

"My goal was not only to show what Eric and the team were doing, but also
to tell why it's important for ordinary people to learn about life in
ancient Rome," Kelly said. "I think that unless we know where our
civilization has come from, we remain ignorant about where we're going."