Pompeii: Digging Deeper with the Muddy Archaeologist

Pompeii: Digging Deeper with the Muddy Archaeologist

The tragedy of Pompeii’s burial by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in AD79 provided an archaeological miracle that enables us to see how Roman villas were richly decorated with stunningly beautiful frescoes. It also gives us a glimpse into how luxury villas reflected their owner’s aspirations. They were also used as working estates for business and industry. Yet, even here, there is art in abundance. Their preserved remains and contents show us aspects of Roman life that archaeologists could never have guessed at without these remarkable discoveries.

Gillian Hovell has excavated at Oplontis, one of the great locations in the Pompeii complex of sites. Sharing her experience of digging at this stunning site, we visit a rich opulent villa and a Roman commercial wine producing centre and nearby shops as she brings to life the aspects of Roman Pompeii that we rarely see. Even here there were tragedies; 54 bodies were found clustered in one room, huddled together and buried for 2,000 year by Vesuvius’ eruption. These Romans are now brought to life for us by the powers that killed so many.

After studying BA (Hons) Latin and Ancient History at Exeter University Gillian Hovell branched out into archaeology. Formerly with the BBC, she is an award winning writer and author who specialises in relating the ancient world to our modern lives, in person, in the field, on line and in the media (most recently on Radio 4). Publications include Visiting the Past: A guide to finding and understanding Britain’s Archaeology and Roman Britain. Forthcoming works are Latin Yesterday, Today and For Ever, and A Mediterranean Tour: Not just a Load of Old Stones. Gillian teaches adult education courses in Latin, archaeology and ancient history and lectures widely, on cruises, tours, at universities and literary festivals and for museums.