Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum
Non-examinable Background: Early Discoveries and Brief History of Excavations
Use google and the suggested webpages to investigate the discovery and excavations of
Pompeii and Herculaneum:
1) When were Pompeii and Herculaneum first discovered?
2) When were Pompeii and Herculaneum first excavated?
3) Why did it take so long for the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum to be discovered?
4) Why are the early excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum described as “treasure
hunts” rather than archaeological excavations?
5) What might be the reason for why Herculaneum has been better preserved than
Pompeii?
6) Why has there been less interest in the excavation and discovery of Herculaneum
compared to Pompeii?
7) Who were Johann Winckelmann and Karl Weber? What were they opposed to?
8) What role did the French play in the excavation of Pompeii?
9) Who was Giuseppe Fiorelli? During what time period did he excavate Pompeii?
Describe his excavation approach and why this is important.
10) Who was Amedeo Maiuri? What did he discover?