March 2003
Research and Teaching

Hidden Histories of Rome

The University helped to uncover some surprising and little-known facts about the lives of ordinary ancient Romans when it recently took part in BBC2's 'Terry Jones' Hidden Histories'.

The programme featured Archaeological Sciences' Reader in Roman Archaeology, Dr Rick Jones, who is leading an Anglo-American Project in Pompeii to unravel the changing fortunes of its people, researching the five centuries that led up to Pompeii's destruction by Mount Vesuvius on a hot August day in 79 AD.

The day began like any other until Mount Vesuvius erupted in a shower of lava, gases, fire and smoke. As they ran to escape, the people of Pompeii were rained down upon with lava, stones and ash; many found themselves buried alive. Pompeii disappeared from the face of the earth and wasn't rediscovered until 1748.

Dr Jones said: "This programme provided a fascinating look into the ordinary lives of the people of Pompeii. The questions we're asking are 'What was the life of Pompeii's ordinary citizens like? How did economic and social life change in the centuries that led to Pompeii's violent destruction in 79 AD?' The programme helped to answer some of those questions."

18 March 2003

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