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Unit of study_
ARCO2111: Pompeii and Herculaneum: Past to Present
2026 unit information
This unit focuses on the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum that were buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. It explores the wide variety of skills and techniques applied by archaeologists to recover, analyse and interpret the well-preserved remains, and considers what as a result we can learn about the lives of the towns' inhabitants and the wider society to which they belonged. Hands-on examination of artefacts in the Chau Chak Wing Museum provides direct interaction with the material culture of Roman Italy. The unit also investigates key issues surrounding the complex contemporary interplay between ethics, heritage and archaeology at Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Archaeology |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level in Archaeology or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Ancient History or (6 credit points at 1000 level in Archaeology and 6 credit points at 1000 level in Ancient History) |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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ARCO3011 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Demonstrate understanding of relevant archaeological methodologies and how these may be utilised to illuminate aspects of the lives (and deaths) of the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaenum and of the wider society to which they belonged.
- LO2. Demonstrate region-specific knowledge of the material culture of the Mediterranean world.
- LO3. Apply theoretical knowledge to practical contexts through first-hand investigation of ancient artefacts from Roman Italy in the collection of the Chau Chak Wing Museum.
- LO4. Critically analyse and evaluate secondary literature demonstrating a variety of scholarly approaches to the archaeological remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
- LO5. Evaluate the complex contemporary relationships that exist between ethics, heritage and archaeology.
- LO6. Demonstrate the research, analytical and communication skills needed to construct an evidence-based and considered argument in written form.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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