Ancient Pompeii Research Articles

Use of Polybolos on the City Walls of Ancient Pompeii: Assessment on the Anthropic Cavities

Use of Polybolos on the City Walls of Ancient Pompeii: Assessment on the Anthropic Cavities

Production recipes of mortar-based materials from ancient Pompeii by quantitative image analysis approach: The microstratigraphy of plasters in the Temple of Venus

Production recipes of mortar-based materials from ancient Pompeii by quantitative image analysis approach: The microstratigraphy of plasters in the Temple of Venus

Large-magnitude (VEI ≥ 7) ‘wet’ explosive silicic eruption preserved a Lower Miocene habitat at the Ipolytarnóc Fossil Site, North Hungary

During Earth’s history, geosphere-biosphere interactions were often determined by momentary, catastrophic changes such as large explosive volcanic eruptions. The Miocene ignimbrite flare-up in the Pannonian Basin, which is located along a complex convergent plate boundary between Europe and Africa, provides a superb example of this interaction. In North Hungary, the famous Ipolytarnóc Fossil Site, often referred to as “ancient Pompeii”, records a snapshot of rich Early Miocene life buried under thick ignimbrite cover. Here, we use a multi-technique approach to constrain the successive phases of a catastrophic silicic eruption (VEI ≥ 7) dated at 17.2 Ma. An event-scale reconstruction shows that the initial PDC phase was phreatomagmatic, affecting ≥ 1500 km2 and causing the destruction of an interfingering terrestrial–intertidal environment at Ipolytarnóc. This was followed by pumice fall, and finally the emplacement of up to 40 m-thick ignimbrite that completely buried the site. However, unlike the seemingly similar AD 79 Vesuvius eruption that buried Pompeii by hot pyroclastic density currents, the presence of fallen but uncharred tree trunks, branches, and intact leaves in the basal pyroclastic deposits at Ipolytarnóc as well as rock paleomagnetic properties indicate a low-temperature pyroclastic event, that superbly preserved the coastal habitat, including unique fossil tracks.

Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases in the Daily Life of Ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum (79 CE, Italy): A Review of Animal-Human-Environment Interactions through Biological, Historical and Archaeological Sources.

Simple SummaryThere is a wide range of historical, archaeological and biological sources to help understand the nature of health and disease in the ancient Roman world. In this study, we examine various predisposing elements typical of the urban environment in relation to zoonotic diseases in the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, both devastated by pyroclastic surges as a consequence of the eruption of Mount Somma–Vesuvius in 79 CE. We analyse the meaning and value of the sources to develop an understanding of the many features of everyday life in these cities. We make judgements about issues relevant to the reconstruction of the past, and finally, we synthesize evidence from different sources to construct historical explanations and arguments in relation to the transmission of zoonotic diseases in these ancient Roman populations.There is no doubt that the cultural and urban environments contributed to the animal–human interaction in the daily life of the ancient Roman world. The singularity of the circumstances of the burial of Pompeii and Herculaneum, together with literary sources and the extraordinary state of preservation of the archaeological and biological material found, has provided researchers with an opportunity, unique in its kind, to reconstruct the life and ways of living of its inhabitants. This study illustrates the main drivers and mechanisms for the distribution and transmission of zoonotic diseases in these ancient Roman populations, such as (i) the large number and role that different animal species played in the ancient Roman world; (ii) the environmental conditions for the survival of parasites, pathogens and vectors; (iii) the great variety and intensity of commercial activities and occupations that presented certain risks of infections; (iv) the absence of adequate safety controls during processing, distribution and preservation of foodstuffs in unsuitable environments and some culinary habits; (v) the inadequate mechanisms of the disposal of human waste and the biotic contamination of watercourses and reservoirs; and finally (vi) the use of animals related to religious and cultural practices.

Bird eggs in the diet of ancient Pompeii: An SEM analysis of archaeological avian eggshell

The presence of avian eggshell is often interpreted generally as evidence of food consumption. When avian eggshell is identified taxonomically it can be used as a parallel line of evidence to gain a clearer picture of ancient subsistence practices (Beacham and Durand, 2007). The Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia (PARP:PS) conducted excavations in Insula VIII.7 of Pompeii, a non-elite neighborhood, between 2005 and 2012. Insula VIII.7 is located near the so-called entertainment district which includes two theaters and the quadriporticus that also may have served entertainment or leisure functions. We predicted that domesticated chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) eggs would play an important role in the non-elite diet, as chickens were frequently mentioned in primary sources, were prevalent in the PARP:PS avian bone assemblage, and are often noted as being cheaper alternatives to other meat sources. We found that while chicken eggs made up the bulk of the eggshell assemblage, partridge (Perdix perdix) eggs made up a significant portion as well.

A Conceptual Design Approach for Archaeological Structures, a Challenging Issue between Innovation and Conservation: A Studied Case in Ancient Pompeii

The preservation of the authenticity of a building artifact in an archaeological area is a responsible practice. On the other hand, the need to save the building artifact from natural and anthropic degradation and ensuring the structural reliability as well as an efficient maintenance program are big challenges. These tasks usually involve the cooperation of several professionals and the responsible use of innovative techniques and materials. This paper focused on a specific design approach for the rehabilitation works of ancient constructions at archaeological sites. The proposed approach implies different steps that allow for design optimization at an increasing knowledge level of the existing structures. In the archaeological area, some crucial design aspects cannot be defined before the execution work phase, since some elements can only be revealed and identified during work execution. As a consequence, the final design has often been optimized after all the information has been acquired. A studied case at the archaeological site of Pompeii is herein presented to prove the efficiency of the proposed approach. This methodology reduces the uncertainty related due to the ancient material performance, to the level of damage and to the effectiveness of the rehabilitation work, unknown at the design stage.

Bile acids and oxo-metabolites as markers of human faecal input in the ancient Pompeii ruins

Small organic molecules, lipids, proteins, and DNA fragments can remain stable over centuries. Powerful and sensitive chemical analysis can therefore be used to characterize ancient remains for classical archaeological studies. This bio-ecological dimension of archaeology can contribute knowledge about several aspects of ancient life, including social organization, daily habits, nutrition, and food storage. Faecal remains (i.e. coprolites) are particularly interesting in this regard, with scientists seeking to identify new faecal markers. Here, we report the analysis of faecal samples from modern-day humans and faecal samples from a discharge pit on the site of the ruins of ancient Pompeii. We propose that bile acids and their gut microbiota oxo-metabolites are the most specific steroid markers for detecting faecal inputs. This is due to their extreme chemical stability and their exclusive occurrence in vertebrate faeces, compared to other ubiquitous sterols and steroids.

In Stone and Story: Early Christianity in the Roman World by Bruce W. Longenecker

Reviewed by: In Stone and Story: Early Christianity in the Roman World by Bruce W. Longenecker Michael F. Bird bruce w. longenecker, In Stone and Story: Early Christianity in the Roman World (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020). Pp. x + 292. $32.99. This colorful volume by Bruce Longenecker interrogates the material remains of ancient Pompeii—its inscriptions, graffiti, frescoes, villas, tombs, and statues—to explain historical and cultural features of the Roman world with a view to plotting their relevance for understanding early Christianity and the NT. L. attempts to use Pompeii as a window into “the Greco-Roman context in which Jesus-devotion was getting its initial foothold” (p. 6) since the Vesuvian town “intersects with themes and issues evident in the New Testament” (p. 24). After some preliminary explanations of his project and its terminology, L. proceeds to explain various “protocols” in the ancient world related to popular devotion (deities and temples, sacrifice and sin, peace and security, genius and emperor, mysteries and knowledge, death and life), social prominence (prominence and character, money and influence, literacies and status, combat and courts, business and success), and household effectiveness (households and slaves, family and solidarity, piety and pragmatism, powers and protection, banqueting with the dead). L. combines his expertise in the NT and the early church with a captivating comparison of features of life in ancient Pompeii, not just among the literary elites but also among the slaves, freedmen, and plebeians of the city. The volume is incredibly pictorial and amounts to a truly stunning visual display of artefacts from ancient Pompeii. The discussions of slavery, honor/shame, deities, temples, and wealth are as good as one can find anywhere. L. also deploys some imagination in saying things like, “Paul’s rented workshop may well have had frescoes of deities on its wall. Instead of getting paint and covering them over in disgust, Paul probably used those frescoes as conversation starters in his interaction with local people” (p. 48). In sum, L. has written an informative and visually stimulating volume, an ideal companion for survey courses on NT, Christian origins, and early Christianity. Even the most seasoned scholar of the NT can expect to learn something from the various vignettes left in graffiti and inscriptions that L. notices with his keen eye. Given that Pompeii is situated in the western Mediterranean, one wishes we had similar volumes about prominent cities in the eastern Mediterranean that had large Christian concentrations such as Ephesus, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. Michael F. Bird Ridley College, Parkville Victoria 3052 Melbourne, Australia Copyright © 2021 The Catholic Biblical Association of America

Microstructure and water absorption of ancient concrete from Pompeii: An integrated synchrotron microtomography and neutron radiography characterization

There is renewed interest in using advanced techniques to characterize ancient Roman concrete due to its exceptional durability and low-carbon footprint. In the present work, samples were drilled from the “Hospitium” in Pompeii and were analyzed by synchrotron microtomography (μCT) and neutron radiography to study how the microstructure, including the presence of induced cracks, affects their water adsorption. The water distribution and absorptivity were quantified by neutron radiography. The 3D crack propagation, pore size distribution and orientation, tortuosity, and connectivity were analyzed from μCT results using advanced imaging methods. Porosity was also measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) as a reference. Ductile fracture patterns were observed once cracks were introduced. Compared to Portland cement mortar/concrete, the Pompeii samples had relatively high porosity, low connectivity, and a similar coefficient of capillary penetration. In addition, permeability was predicted from models based on percolation theory and pore structure data to evaluate the fluid transport properties. Understanding the microstructure of ancient Pompeii concrete is important because it could inspire the development of modern concrete with high durability.

Multidrum Stone Columns at the Pompeii Archaeological Site: Analysis of Geometrical Properties and State of Preservation

The seismic vulnerability of ancient free-standing multidrum stone columns is an important issue for the preservation of Greek and Roman archaeological sites. Such elements show a complex and highly non-linear dynamic behavior, requiring specific and sophisticated structural analysis. Different numerical studies on the dynamic behavior of ancient multidrum stone columns found that their seismic response is sensitive to their geometrical parameters, as well as to the material elastic properties, the kinetic coefficient of friction and the amplitude and frequency of the seismic action. Therefore, in the present research, a detailed survey of free-standing multidrum stone columns representative of a wide range of elements at the Pompeii Archaeological site was developed to provide a primary evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of such elements based on their geometrical properties. The study focuses on 103 multidrum grey-tuff columns, from four areas at the site: tetrastyle atrium of Casa del Fauno at Regio VI and Quadriportico dei Teatri, Foro Triangolare and Palestra Sannitica at Regio VIII. Grey tuff was a typically locally sourced natural stone, used as a building material in ancient Pompeii. The research areas included both private (Casa del Fauno) and public buildings (Quadriportico dei Teatri, Foro Triangolare and Palestra Sannitica). The mean overall geometrical properties affecting the seismic behavior of the columns in each research area and the discussion of the collected results are herein presented.

Votate Lollio come edile; lo chiedono i fabbricanti di stuoie. Note pedagogiche sui manifesti politici dell'antica Pompei

In addition to boredom and in addition to the disgust for the barbarization of language and the superficiality of reasoning, the so-called permanent electoral campaign that characterizes political current affairs leads to a general miseducation of all citizens regarding the meaning of the elections. Despite this deleterious crushing on the present of politics and all its nuances, it is worth remembering that suffrage and propaganda have traveled, with mixed success and tortuous upheavals, all of European history.A precious and incomparable trace of this long and controversial story is the so-called political manifestos of ancient Pompeii, wall paintings of the scriptores that, between 62 and 79 AD, urged voters to express themselves on their magistrates. The tituli picti of ancient Pompeii offer us an opportunity to reflect on the original dimension of politics and the electoral phenomenon which, bon gre mal gre, is intrinsic to our education for citizenship.

HHpXRF study of recent zinc and lead pollution on lava stepping stones from Pompeii: Tourist footfall, tyre dust and leaded petrol

A helium‐enabled Niton X‐ray analyser (HHpXRF) study of 296 lava stepping stones from ancient Pompeii showed that their surfaces were contaminated with superficial deposits of Zn and Pb. Recent research has shown that concentrations of these elements are highest in urban areas, where they were attributed to tyre dust and leaded petrol, respectively. The distribution of these elements on the stepping stones is represented on maps of the site. Zn pollution is most abundant in areas visited by tourists and is attributed mostly to wear from their rubber‐soled footwear. Pb pollution is attributed to the movement of onsite vehicles using leaded petrol.

Multi-analytical and non-invasive characterization of the polychromy of wall paintings at the Domus of Octavius Quartio in Pompeii

The materials and techniques of wall paintings decorating the Domus of Octavius Quartio, an outstanding patrician villa in ancient Pompeii, were investigated by means of a multi-analytical and non-invasive approach. Chemical and mineralogical characterization of pigments was obtained by the combined use of external reflection Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (ER-FTIR), sequentially shifted excitation Raman spectroscopy (SSR-RS) and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. ER-FTIR and SSR-RS provided complementary molecular information for the characterization of both organic and inorganic pigments and helped to identify the pigments in the white, red, yellow, black, blue and pink paints. XRF spectroscopy provided elemental characterization of the inorganic pigments and assisted in the determination of pigment mixtures mainly constituting the green paints. Results pointed to the use of a characteristic Roman palette, consisting of calcite, cinnabar, red and yellow ochre, green earths, Egyptian blue and carbon black. A fresco application of the pigments was suggested for the execution of the wall paintings. The combined approach by spectroscopic techniques also recognized that wax had been applied as a consolidant or protective coating, and weathering products in the form of gypsum and calcium oxalate also occur.

In-situ multi-analytical characterization of original and decay materials from unique wall mirrors in the House of Gilded Cupids, Pompeii

The House of Gilded Cupids (Regio VI, Insula 16, 7, 38) was unquestionably one of the most important residences of Ancient Pompeii, where important archaeological artefacts such as mural paintings, mosaics, sculptures and lalariums were rediscovered. This work characterizes two wall mirrors that, together with those recovered from the House of Efebo and the Domus of Euplia, represent the only ones found in the archaeological site of Pompeii. The 2015 and 2016 expeditions of the Analytica Pompeiana Universitatis Vasconicae project performed an in situ multi-analytical study, using only portable non-destructive analytical techniques. Molecular data provided by Raman spectroscopy suggested obsidian was the reflective matrix for both mirrors. Elemental data provided by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) systems were concordant with Raman spectroscopic results, enabling the detection of Ca, K, Al and Na as the main elements included in the Si matrix characteristic of obsidian igneous rocks. The LIBS data confirmed the presence of obsidian hydration layers. All techniques were used to investigate the degraded white and yellow crusts of the mirrors. Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and nitrocalcite (Ca(NO3)2·4H2O) were identified in the white areas and gypsum and goethite (α-FeOOH) in the yellow crusts. LIBS depth profiling on the white crusts found a layer of nitrocalcite on top of the gypsum layer. Gypsum and goethite were proposed to form after partial dissolution of the mortars patches (with high iron contents) used in modern restorations around the mirrors, followed by a reprecipitation on the surface of the mirrors. Nitrocalcite was proposed to form after the attack of atmospheric NOx on gypsum crusts. These results represent the first analytical work focused on the study of these unique mirrors and provide the knowledge needed for defining more adequate conservation treatments.

Knowledge, conservation and technologies: a research project on the streets of Ancient Pompeii

The recent conclusion of a challenging project on surveying and monitoring the conservation status of the archaeological site of Pompeii was an opportunity to build a database of information about the city buried by the Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D. The use of the most modern detection technologies (laser scanners, drones, etc.) has allowed to reach such degrees of accuracy as to open new perspectives of research on urban history.The survey, in fact, has returned in detail for the first time the compositional geometries and the weaving of the blocks of the ancient roadmap of the site. In this perspective it seems interesting to systematise the new data and those from the archaeological excavations, also recent, on one of the most fascinating themes of the history of Pompeii: the forma urbis of the city, the chronology of the roads and the great work of monumentalisation consisting in their realization in stone blocks.Therefore, on the basis of the study on the streets of Pompeii from a usage continuity perspective in the two phases of their life (the ancient, pre-eruption, and the modern, post-excavation), the research project that is illustrated aims to increase the levels of knowledge of the site, through the analysis of the techniques and the constituent materials, the definition of the relative chronology about the realization of the various stretches, the assessment of the conservation status. This also in order to identify appropriate management tools and appropriate strategies for the protection of such assets.The project, for its implementation, will use: study of the construction typologies, surveys aimed to acquire knowledge of the constituent materials, observation of the stratigraphic relations between the different road sections, pre-eruption and post-excavation historical analysis.The data that emerge will be integrated with excavation surveys, aimed at verifying chronologies and stratigraphic layers; they will be complemented by the results of the excavation of the alley between the Insulae 2 and 3 of the Regio V of Pompeii, to be executed, to return an undisturbed sample for study, both from the point of view of the geometries and of the techniques and the constituent materials.

Seeing into the past: integrating 3D documentation and non-invasive prospecting methods for the analysis, understanding and reconstruction of the ancient Pompeii. The case of the House of Obellio Firmo (IX, 14)

In 2015 the Department of History and Cultures of the Bologna University took part in the Grande Progetto Pompei - Piano della Conoscenza, with the task of providing a modern and complete documentation of the so-called Lotto 3 in Pompeii. The new survey was carried out by means of integrated innovative diagnostic survey techniques in order to provide a total documentary research of the whole sector. In 2016 a new project was started in agreement with the competent Superintendency, and focused on the study and preservation of the House of Obellio Firmo, included in the Lotto 3 of the Roman city. The new research contemplates an in-depth analysis of the building, employing systematic laser scanning and photogrammetry methods to generate an accurate 3D model of the house. This model is going to constitute the starting point for the further analysis of the wall stratigraphies and for the mapping and monitoring of the structures’ state of decay. The full-scale analytical documentation of the building also includes a detailed geophysical mapping of all the accessible domestic spaces, by using the ground penetrating radar technique. The preliminary results achieved by the non-invasive prospecting survey, integrated with the analysis of the surviving walls and building techniques, supply valid information for the archaeological interpretation of the house’s history. In order to allow the management and sharing of the information collected, the data are going to be organised within a building information model (BIM) with a triple objective: the reconstruction of a fragment of the ancient urban landscape in Pompeii during the oldest phase, with particular attention directed to the Samnitic period; the outlining of a precise strategy of intervention for the restoration and preservation of the House of Obellio Firmo; the re-opening of the building to sightseeing tours and its restitution to public use.

Seismic Vulnerability of the Ancient Pompeii through the Evaluation of the 62 AD Earthquake Effects

ABSTRACTThe ancient Pompeii was hit by a sequence of earthquakes during the 1st century with disastrous consequences on the buildings. Many constructions were repaired after the ground shaking, others, in particular public buildings present, still today, signs of active works at the time of the Vesuvius eruption. Moreover, cracks and deformations originated from the 1st century tremors are visible on the walls and represent a precious source of information on the ultimate performance of the constructions. Despite a high in-plan geometric heterogeneity, the Pompeians’ housing stock was limited to two storeys with, often, an in-plan and along the height uniform distribution of masses, strength and stiffness, hence a reduced torsional motions tendency under earthquake actions. Furthermore, the seismic performance of the building could be influenced by the masonry arrangement and components properties, ranging, in the analysed cases, from the opus quadratum to the structura fabric, i.e. a concrete nucleus covered by stones or bricks leaf. The paper provides the key features, although of qualitative type, of the constructions vulnerability level during the last phase of the Pompeii’s history, basing on the “seismic” improvement interventions, on ancient deformations and repaired cracks, compared to the buildings configuration and the used constructive techniques.

Wall paintings facies and their possible genetic correlates in the ancient Pompeii: A bio-anthropologic message from the past?

The figurative arts and precisely the ancient Pompeian wall paintings portraits can provide an additional source of information in supplementing bio-anthropological studies. There are several genetic diseases with a wide spectrum of congenital bone stigmata in association to distinctive facial features. Gorlin–Goltz syndrome, also named nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by unusual skeletal changes, such as macrocephaly, facial asymmetry, hypertelorism, frontal and parietal bossing caused by germline mutations of the gene PTCH1. The Gorlin syndrome, clinically defined in 1963, existed during Dynastic Egyptian times, as revealed by a spectrum of skeletal findings compatible with the syndrome in mummies dating back to three thousand years ago and, most likely, in the ancient population of Pompeii. In the present research, we discuss the potential relationship between Pompeian wall paintings portrait and the cranio-metric bone changes revealed among the Pompeian skull collections assuming that the ancient portraits can constitute an important tool that should be strictly integrated with osteologic and biomolecular data in order to argue a syndromic diagnosis in ancient population.

From a stratigraphic sequence to a landscape evolution model: Late Pleistocene and Holocene volcanism, soil formation and land use in the shade of Mount Vesuvius (Italy)

Detailed lithostratigraphic, geochemical, pedological, micromorphological and archaeological analyses were carried out at a stratigraphic sequence of Scafati, about 3 km east of ancient Pompeii. It comprises roughly the last 22,000 years of landscape history consisting of a multilayered succession of repeated volcanic deposition and pedogenesis. The former is caused by several phases of volcanic activity of Somma-Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia, reflecting a large spectrum of eruption types including Plinian, sub-Plinian, Strombolian to Vulcanian and effusive volcanic events. The latter contains phases of volcanic quiescence leading to soil formations of different durations, intensities and soil-forming environments. Furthermore, the paleosols repeatedly reveal clear evidence of anthropogenic activity such as agriculture. Using this multiproxy approach, a holistic landscape evolution model was developed reconstructing the late Pleistocene and Holocene history of volcanic activity, soil formation and land use in the hinterland of Pompeii. This was correlated with the larger-scale climatic and human history of the Campania region.

Health Risks Among the Elite: An Ecological-Political Approach to Life in Ancient Pompeii

This investigation challenges the assumption that reduced health is attributed to lower class individuals only. Skeletal indicators of illness and disease found on the osteological remains at ancient Pompeii are associated with an elite diet. The chronic conditions include dental caries, brucellosis, dental abrasion, dental abscesses, fluorosis, Forestier’s Disease (DISH), Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna (HFI), spina bifida occulta, and tuberculosis. The volcanic eruption in 79 CE provided exceptional preservation of the remains of flora, fauna, artwork, and architecture, which are used to recreate the diet and lifestyle of members of Pompeian society. Past analyses of the osteological remains include the disarticulated skeletal elements in the bath complexes and the burial of a large family within a dwelling at Pompeii. These remains are representative of a sample of the living population and contain paleopathological markers that are attributed to the consumption of food items specific to an elite diet. This case study demonstrates another avenue of research within the ecological-political model in archaeological context and illustrates many health risks associated with the lifestyle of members of higher socioeconomic status.