Herculaneum is an ancient Roman city near Pompeii that was buried and frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Archeologists are able to learn accurate details about Roman society from excavations at Herculaneum because organic materials are exceptionally well preserved unlike at Pompeii. While bodies were found at both sites, hundreds of casts of humans and animals survive at Pompeii, whereas the eruption incinerated most inhabitants of Herculaneum. Working at a site like Herculaneum would provide interesting insights into the past but present different challenges than a modern crime scene due to the age and fragility of remains.

1. Lab 6<br />Herculaneum Uncovered <- your first lab link <br />1. Where is Herculaneum located? What happened to the city?<br />Herculaneum is near Pompeii. The city buried and frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.<br />2. Why is Herculaneum important to archeology today?<br />Because it is the easiest and most accurate society that archeologists can put together. They have everything they need to understand this society. <br />3. What are some of the challenges that archeologists face when examining the city of Herculaneum?<br />Some of the challenges that archeologists face when examining the city of Herculaneum was that it was decaying, and falling apart. <br />4. How do you think the archeological investigation of Herculaneum relates to forensic anthropology? In what ways are similar techniques and processes used in both of these situations?<br />I think the archeological investigation of Herculaneum relates to forensic anthropology in the fact that they are both trying to piece together what happened by analyzing bodies. Some similar techniques and processes used in both of these situations are they may examine indicative acts; they will try to determine the sex, age, physical characteristics, and any information on the possible cause of death.<br />5. What is surprising about the ruins in Herculaneum? How is this different than Pompeii?<br />That organic items are preserved extremely well unlike Pompeii. Herculaneum had only a few bodies where as Pompeii they found more bodies then Herculaneum.<br />6. How do archeologists know that other people have been to the ruins in Herculaneum before them? What were the people searching for? What dangers did they face?<br />Archeologists know that other people have been to the ruins in Herculaneum before them because they found tunnels that grave robbers made. They faced dangers of rock slides, and suffocate.<br />7. How did the bodies in Herculaneum differ from those in Pompeii?<br />Hundreds of casts of human and animal bodies survive in Pompeii. The way they were preserved is unique and gives an insight into the life and death of the city. The blast from the eruption incinerated most of the inhabitants of Herculaneum. In Pompeii, although the 2000 inhabitants who did not escape the city were killed, the eruption preserved as well as destroyed. Hundreds of bodies have been discovered since excavations of the city began. <br />8. Do you think it would be interesting to work on a site like Herculaneum to discover what happened? Why or why not? How would this work differ from a traditional crime scene?<br />Yes I do think it would be interesting to work on a site like Herculaneum to discover what happened, because I have always enjoyed archeology. This work differs from traditional crime scenes in the fact that one it goes far back into history so these objects are very fragile, and you would be dealing with humans and animals bodies. <br />