Changing Interpretations: New Tech & Research
Name 3 new technologies used at Pompeii & Herculaneum
CAT scans, portable digital x-ray machines, DNA analysis, GIS + laser scanning to create 3D models, virtual-reality based eye tracking, isotopic analysis/analysis of amino acids in bones to determine diet, AI robotics, AI translation
Difference between conservation & reconstruction
Conservation: Protecting & preserving artefacts & sites in current state
Reconstruction: Repairing, replacing or rebuilding structures or artefacts using non-original materials to make it appear as it originally did or to recreate it
Who implemented the 'top down' approach to excavations?
Giuseppe Fiorelli
Creator of plaster casts of human remains
Giuseppe Fiorelli
The cap on daily tourist numbers from 2024 onwards at Pompeii
20,000
The traditional date for the eruption is 24 August; however, what evidence is there that the eruption might have been later in the year?
Archaeological evidence of heavy clothing, late autumn fruits and braziers, a hoard of coins dated no earlier than September of 79 AD, and charcoal graffiti dated to the 17th of October.
This famous building in Pompeii collapsed in 2010. What was it and why did it collapse?
Gladiator School.
A combination of water damage and poor restoration attempts.
Amount of Pompeii & Herculaneum excavated, respectively
Pompeii: 66 hecatres 2/3 excavated; Herc: 20 hecatres, 25% excavated
House where 'family of 4' was found
House of the Golden Bracelet
ONE advantage of tourism at P&H
1. Economic benefits (revenue for maintenance & repairs) & income for local economy (tour guides, hospitality)
2. Cultural & educational impact: global appreciation for archaeology/history
3. Preservation & conservation (revenue from tourism & awareness used for international fundraising - e.g. Friends of Herculaneum Cambridge, Packard Humanities Institute)
4. Community development: better infrastructure, amenities & services for locals
What is the purpose of using X-ray phase contrast imaging in the Herculaneum Papyri Project?
To digitally scan and virtually unwrap the carbonised scrolls found in the villa of Papyri. As they are brittle previous attempts to manually unwrap them has led to desctruction of the scrolls and text.
List a range of conservation techniques and strategies used at Pompeii and/or Herculaneum
Laser cleaning of biological contaminants, encasing carbonised timber in perspex, sheep to manage unexcavated areas, regular hawk patrols to deal with pigeons, reopening the Herculaneum Sewer to manage waterlogging, installing cameras to monitor theft, constructing metal roofs to cover buildings, providing booties to tourists to protect mosaics, removing destructive paraffin wax from previous conservation efforts, injecting grout into cracks, reapplying flaking paint, etc.
TWO major parts of Herculaneum that have not been excavated and the reasons why they have not.
The forum, major temples, the theatre, and large sections of its necropolis and residential areas.
The modern town of Ercolano sits above the site and the denser volcanic material that covered the town in 79 AD.
What is the name of the charter that governs the treatment of human remains?
Vermillion Accord (1989)
ONE specific example of damage caused by a tourist
1. 2024 British man carved his family's initials onto wall of House of the Vestals, Pompeii
2. 2024 Kazakh tourist carved his name onto plaster wall of House of the Ceii, Pompeii (had to pay for damage)
3. 2018 US tourist moved mosaic tiles in the House of the Sailor at Pompeii trying to take a good selfie
Identify the tech used by Estelle Lazer in interpreting human remains and ONE of their findings.
Portable digital X-ray scans & CT scans
Some casts had been considerably manipulated to create romanticised poses.
Bones were often removed prior to casting and other elements like metal rods & brackets had been introduced.
Example of Italian contribution to conservation or reconstruction
From 1997 Italian government increased sites annual budget from $3 million to $9 million annually
The Italian government announced it would fund 50% of the restoration projects under Zuchtriegel
Herculaneum Conservation Project: Majority of team of restorers & specialists are Italian, Archaeological Park of Herculaneum (local heritage authority) is main administrative body for the site
Outline some of the major issues with further excavations at Pompeii
Conservation problems as unerath structures become vulnerable to deterioration from air, light, and moisture, and require constant maintenance.
Also further destabilises the surrounding volcanic deposits which can put strains on uncovered regions if not careful.
Will place a further strain on resources and infrastructure, which is already stretched, to maintain these new sections.
What controversy arose during the 2012 Australian-American excavations
The team put up barriers to block locals from seeing the plaster casts, which created an uproar and led many to feel they were being denied their heritage.
Pre-2024 average number of tourists & revenue generated in ticket sales at Pompeii
3,500,000 visitors & average income of over 20 million euros/year
A 2002 study of the 152 individuals uncovered in the boathouses in Herculaneum led to what change in the interpretation of how people died?
Originally believed that people were instantly killed by boiling vapours from pyroclastic surges. The study found they more slowly baked and suffocated to death in stone boathouses used as shelter.
Name 2 international groups who fund conservation projects in P&H & what they funded + cost
1. Packard Humanities Institute - Herculaneum Conservation Project (2001-2014) 20 million euros - 80% of unsafe roofing repaired including House of the Gem, 990m of ancient drainage reconstructed, created site plan over 41000m2 and register of over 2000 rooms
2. European Union - 155 million euros for House of the Vettii restoration Pompeii 2023, 105 million euros for Great Pompeii Project
Summarise the debate regarding further excavations of the Villa of Payri, Herculaneum.
NO - led by Wallace-Hadrill, money could be used elsewhere, there would be high costs to mantain the excavated building and already problems managing what is currently excavated. Area is already unstable and excavations would pose a threat to both the villa and rest of Herc. Won't contribute much else to understanding.
YES - led by Robert Fowler, only intact Greaco-Roman library, might have other lost texts, will bring further interest to the site, the whole area might be lost eventually, so we should excavate now before lost forever.
Outline Valeria Amoretti's proposal for how we should treat the human remains
She states that they should have dedicated displays which focus on the person and their life, separating them from the other ‘objects’. This helps value the person and does not treat them with ghastly morbidity.
2 Strategies used to reduce impacts of tourism at Pompeii or Herculaneum - identify pro/con of each
1. 2024: Zuchtriegel 20,000 daily cap on tourism: + reduces damage from foot traffic & overcrowding & potential vandalism; - reduces tourism revenue
2. Designated pathways: channel foot traffic along specific paths; + minimizes damage to delicate structures, reduces the site’s environmental impact; - may not stop vandals or tourists trying to take selfies
3. 2016: Smart@Pompeii video management system (Italian Ministry Cultural Heritage, National Research Council): IP network video cameras & mini-drones with with thermal & movement sensors & speakers to identify intruders, vandals, changes in air quality, earthquakes, & erosion damage. +: identify potential threats to conservation for early intervention, deter vandals & make accountable, reduce security staff; - expensive
4. Virtual Adrastia at Pompeii: Virtual and augmented reality tours of Pompeii controlled by Pompeii Archaeological Park; +: reduce congestion at site, reduce damage, allow visitors to see in detail; -: cost, may participate through other providers and reduce revenue from ticket sales