Archaeology of Ancient Pompeii

Explain how archaeological context and provenance determine the interpretive value of a find.

Reconstruct the order of events represented in a simplified stratigraphic sequence from Pompeii.

Distinguish primary deposition, secondary deposition, and post-depositional disturbance in Pompeian contexts.

Evaluate how early tunneling and modern excavation practices produce different strengths and limitations in the archaeological record.

Interpret entrances, circulation routes, and spatial relationships on a simplified Pompeian building plan.

Infer a sequence of building alterations from masonry joins, blocked openings, and floor levels.

Infer an activity from the distribution of artifacts and ecofacts while accounting for alternative explanations.

Interpret a Pompeian inscription, graffito, or wall image in relation to its physical find context.

Test an interpretation of a Pompeian household against architectural and artifact evidence.

Reconstruct a commercial or productive activity from evidence found in a Pompeian shop or workshop.

Evaluate what eruption deposits and human remains can and cannot reveal about the destruction of Pompeii.

Construct a concise archaeological interpretation that cites converging evidence, acknowledges uncertainty, and distinguishes fact from inference.