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Pompeii Food and Drink: Purpose of Project
Would you like to be an historical investigator for a couple of weeks? Would you like to see an ancient city from behind-the-scenes, not as a fleeting tourist? Have you read novels about the last days of Pompeii? Do you want to know more? The Pompeii Food and Drink Project offers an unequaled opportunity to explore the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy, as a participant in an ongoing noninvasive (that means no digging) study with a staff of historians, architects, and classicists. Our next trip to Pompeii, in June and July 2009, will be our eighth year of on-site research in Pompeii. Join us as a volunteer or help our work as a sponsor. Background In A.D. 79, an eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius buried the thriving 600-year-old Roman city of Pompeii and surrounding villas with 20 feet of pumice, volcanic ash, and other pyroclastic materials. The city remained almost forgotten until 250 years ago, when excavations began to uncover many buildings and their contents that were preserved in a remarkable manner. Within the wall of this 157 acre city are houses, shops, temples, baths, markets, and sidewalks that attest to Pompeii's social and economic vibrancy.
Oven in Commercial Bakery		Research Objectives The research goal is to analyze the patterns of daily life by a noninvasive study of the structures that are associated with the storage, distribution, preparation, serving, and consumption of food and drink. Our objectives are: To identify rooms and spaces associated with food and drink in the following structural categories: Residential, Commercial, Public, Religious, and Other. Over 1435 structures will be examined.
To document the rooms, spaces, and features of structures in all categories, by measurements, sketches, and photographs. To organize and preserve the massive amount of collected information so that it can be analyzed and be made available to others. A comprehensive electronic database, Food and Drink in Ancient Pompeii Codex, includes the structure address, floor plans, features shown in original drawings, video, and digital, color, black/white photographs. A printed guide will also be prepared. See our online demonstration of the database here. To determine the spatial relationships of structures to one another, and the patterns of daily life, by using a Geographic Information System (GIS). To present city-planning lessons learned from the analysis of ancient Pompeii about building an enduring and healthy urban environment in the 21st century.
Why Is This Research Important? The opportunity to engage in this research may soon disappear. Pompeii is one of 100 most endangered cultural sites listed by the World Monuments Fund. Pollution is rapidly causing the crumbling of stone structures, the fading of frescoes, and the destruction of magnificent mosaic floors. More than 2 million tourists each year have further imperiled the site. And Vesuvius remains an active volcano; earthquakes are not uncommon. The Pompeii Food and Drink Project urgently needs to continue its research before valuable information and artifacts are irretrievably lost. You can help as a volunteer or support our work as a sponsor.
Project Schedule for 2009		Learn About Opportunities for Volunteers Learn About Opportunities for Sponsors
Week 1	June 21 to June 27
Week 2	June 28 to July 4
Week 3	July 5 to July 11	Copyright ©2008 Pompeii-Food-and-Drink.org. All rights reserved. Contact Pompeii Food and Drink by Email. Pompeii-Food-And-Drink.org Logo Design by Helen Iranyi
The cost is $1500 per week. New volunteers must sign up for a minimum of 2 weeks; returning volunteers may sign up for one or more weeks. Details...