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Researchers reconstruct Pompeii house using digital technology

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have created a digital model of a house in Pompeii by using traditional archaeology assisted by 3D technology.

The Swedish Pompeii Project was started at the Swedish Institute in Rome in 2000 after an earthquake threatened to destroy the remains of the former Roman town.

The 3D model of a house that was recreated was a villa belonging to the wealthy Caecilius Iucundus.

To create material for the model, researchers visited the site to uncover floor surfaces from 79AD, perform detailed studies of the building’s development over time, clean and document three large estates, as well as a tavern, a laundry, a bakery and several gardens.

In one of these gardens, they discovered that some of the taps to a fountain were on at the time of eruption, and the water was still gushing when the rain of ash and pumice fell over Pompeii.

The researchers occasionally also found completely untouched layers. In a shop were three intact windows stacked against each other.

By studying the water and sewer systems they were able to interpret the social hierarchies at the time, and see how retailers and restaurants were initially dependent on large wealthy families for water, although an aqueduct was built shortly before the eruption that buried the town.

Nicolò Dell’Unto, digital archaeologist at Lund University, said: "By combining new technology with more traditional methods, we can describe Pompeii in greater detail and more accurately than was previously possible."

Images via YouTube

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Comments

  1. It is as if they never died in vain. So much of it was in a time capsule just waiting to be discovered and reconstructed in such fine detail for all mankind to revisit the culture and times of so long ago! All thanks to the meticulous and dedicated work of all those many who have made it possible! You have collectively brought history back to life after 2000 years – congratulations and thank you so much!!!

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