Recherche par auteur > Alice Capobianco

Within Pompeii's insula VII, 14, simultaneous with the excavation and material study activities, a stratigraphic analysis of the wall structures and coatings was conducted. This research involved the study of three houses and eleven commercial establishments, allowing for the reconstruction of the construction sequences in this sector of the ancient city. Furthermore, one of the objectives was to analyze the domestic and residential areas, aiming to delineate the function of spaces and reconstruct aspects of the daily life within these three dwellings.

The architectural complex under examination developed, both in terms of floor plan and functionality, over a chronological horizon ranging from the 4th century BC (although earlier evidence, not entirely relevant, has been identified) to the eruption of 79 AD. Regarding the three houses, although a residential function may perhaps be identifiable from the early Samnite phases, it is confidently defined only from the 2nd century BC, especially in the western sector.

The analysis focused mostly on the largest house (Domus VII, 14, 5, also known as the House of the Queen of England or House of the Banker), which occupies almost the entire western sector.

A more in-depth study was conducted concerning the life phase immediately preceding the eruption of 79 AD: perhaps due to economic problems linked to the frequent seismic activity that affected the area during that chronological period, part of the house was converted into a commercial area with the establishment of a dyeing workshop; simultaneously, however, some spaces were renovated. The analysis of walls and living spaces was accompanied by a study of 19th-century excavation journals, which feature long lists of materials found in the investigated areas without providing precise locations: a study was carried out to enable the localization of these objects, with the aim of obtaining information regarding the relationship between this new commercial activity and the rest of the dwelling, as well as concerning the function and use of other spaces.

The second dwelling analyzed is VII, 14, 9, also known as the House of the Skeleton, House of the Doves, or House of Vibius Popidius: in the north-western sector, the remains of a small disused bread-making plant have been identified, of which absolute chronology is still under investigation. The analysis conducted on the structures and floor plan has allowed for hypotheses about the organization of the spaces and the relationship between this production area and the rest of the house.

Lastly, still under study is the shop-house VII, 14, 14-15: in this case as well, the examination of excavation reports from the 19th and 20th centuries has provided an idea of the function of this commercial establishment and allowed for hypotheses about the relationship between the shop and the connected residence.

The analysis of objects, spaces, and the reconstruction of pathways have provided insights into the daily life of the inhabitants of the houses and their relationship with the productive and artisanal areas within the domestic spaces.