Cities of Vesuvius: Case Study Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes on the case studies of the Cities of Vesuvius, focusing on key terms and their definitions.

Herculaneum Scrolls

Ancient scrolls carbonised by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, revealing information about elite Roman life.

Virtual Unwrapping

A technique developed by Brent Seales to digitally explore the insides of the Herculaneum scrolls using CT scanning.

The Vesuvius Challenge

A crowd-sourced project aimed at decoding the Herculaneum scrolls, illustrating citizen science and international collaboration.

Epicurean Philosophy

A school of thought revealed in the Herculaneum scrolls, emphasizing pleasure as the highest good.

Herculaneum Conservation Project

An initiative to preserve Herculaneum, highlighting international partnerships and innovative conservation techniques.

In-situ Reinstatement

A conservation technique that conserves and re-installs original materials in their initial positions.

Photogrammetry

A method used to create 3D models of structures and artefacts at Herculaneum for documentation and analysis.

Pompeii Cast Project

An ongoing project using modern techniques to study and display the preserved human remains of Pompeii.

CT Scanning

An imaging technique used in the Pompeii Cast Project for non-destructive analysis of skeletal remains.

Isotope Analysis

A method that reveals the geographical origins of individuals based on chemical signatures in bones.

Diversity in Pompeii

Recent research showing that the population of Pompeii included individuals from diverse backgrounds across the Mediterranean.

Giuseppe Fiorelli

The pioneer of the original plaster cast technique at Pompeii, capturing the final moments of victims.

Packard Humanities Institute (PHI)

A US-based organization that contributed to the Herculaneum Conservation Project providing funding and expertise.

International Collaboration

An essential aspect of archaeological projects that combines resources and knowledge from various countries.

Revised Historical Understanding

The reinterpretation of past assumptions based on new evidence and research findings in archaeology.