Unearthing and sharing stories of Roman daily life
The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE preserved the details of daily life in Pompeii in ways that resonate with all who visit or study this place, with lessons that speak across time and culture. With the help of undergraduate and graduate student volunteers and international partners from the University of Bologna, this project team is excavating and virtually reconstructing one of the largest gardens in Pompeii.
Over the course of three years of excavation, two main narratives have emerged. The first, a story of how the city built urban gardens as a way of recovering from a devastating earthquake 17 years before Vesuvius erupted; the second, how the inhabitants of one house experienced their home and its garden, whether as owners, children or enslaved members of the household. The next phase of research dissemination is focused on empowering students to share this exciting work with the Ithaca community.
- Kaja Tally-Schumacher, Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
- Caitlín Barrett, Department of Classics
College of Arts and Sciences
- Community partner: Pompeii Archaeological Park
Providing seed support for a wide range of community-engaged learning projects