Outline

Overview

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

Academic unit	Archaeology
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	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)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ARCO3011
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Lesley Beaumont-Cankaya, lesley.beaumont@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Examination Exam image and short-answer questions relate to the artefactual and built remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum, archaeological techniques of recovery and analysis, and the contribution made to our understanding of the lives and society of the inhabitants.	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Early Feedback Task In-Class Written Quiz This compulsory Quiz assesses students' understanding of the content of Week 1: Lecture 2, the Week 2 Lectures, and the Week 2 Tutorial.	10%	Week 03	500 words equiv.
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Essay The essay focuses on evaluation of the complex contemporary relationships that exist between ethics, heritage and archaeology at Pompeii and Herculaneum.	45%	Week 11 Due date: 23 Oct 2026 at 23:59	2,000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task: In Week 3 students will sit a 30-minute in-tutorial written quiz on material covered in Weeks 1 and 2.

Essay: students will write a 2,000 word essay on a question related to the relationship between ethics, heritage and archaeology at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Exam: students will sit a 2 hour exam in the formal exam period. The exam will comprise image and short-answer questions on the course content.

Detailed information about each assessment task will be made available on Canvas.

You are required to submit all assessments for this unit or risk receiving an absent fail.

Assessment criteria

Result code	Result name	Mark range	Description
HD	High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
DI	Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
CR	Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
PS	Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
FA	Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
AF	Absent fail	0 - 49	When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Penalty for late submission of the essay will be 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction to the Course 2. Setting the Scene	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	1. The Destruction, burial & preservation of Pompeii and Herculaneum 2. Pompeii & Herculaneum as case studies in the development of archaeological methods, questions ðhics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Guidelines for handling ancient artefacts that connect us with the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Guest lectures by Dr Estelle Lazer on the Pompeii Cast Project and other research	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	In-class Early Feedback Task written quiz (worth 10% of final course mark)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Guest lectures by Dr Craig Barker on Urban Archaeology: The organisation and construction of urban space	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Guest tutorial by Dr Estelle Lazer on ethics and other issues associated with the excavation, study and display of the human remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Public space and public life at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Discussion of essay and exam assessment tasks	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Domestic Archaeology at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Tablewares at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	The People of Pompeii: The Archaeology of Inequality	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Material culture as an expression of social inequality	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Death, burial and commemoration at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Roman funerary markers and epitaphs	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Economy, food and diet at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Studying the Roman economy through transport amphorae and numismatics	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	1. Religious life in Pompeii and Herculaneum 2. Leisure activities in Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Material culture associated with religious life and leisure	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Frescoes and mosaics at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Frescoes and mosaics	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	1. Writing and material culture: The integration of historical and archaeological sources 2. The future of archaeological investigation at Pompeii and Herculaneum	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Writing and material culture	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	1. Pompeii and Herculaneum: The legacy 2. Course review and completion of Unit of Study survey	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Exam preparation	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at all lectures is strongly recommended. In cases of illness or misadventure that prevent attendance, the lecture recordings should be viewed as soon as possible.

Tutorial attendance is mandatory. Tutorials are not recorded and ancient artefactual material can only be handled during tutorials. A record of attendance will be kept for each tutorial.

Absence from the Week 3 Tutorial must be supported by Special Consideration documentation in order to schedule the sitting of a replacement Early Feedback Task In-Class Written Quiz (worth 10% of the final Course mark).

According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Lecture readings

Week 1:

E. De Carolis & G. Patricelli, Vesuvius, AD79. The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. “L’Erma” di Bretschneider, 2003, 41-70.

Week 2:

A.E. Cooley, Pompeii, 2nd ed. London: Bloomsbury Academic: 2023 – Chapter 1: “Destruction of Pompeii”.

L. Zarmati & D. Riley, “Pompeii” in C. Smith, ed. Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2nd ed. Cham: Switzerland, 2020, 8729-8734.

Week 3:

E. Lazer, “Skeletal remains and the health of the population at Pompeii” in M. Flohr & A. Wilson, eds. The Economy of Pompeii. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

E. Lazer, R. Canigliula, D. Vu, A. Middleton, S. Luyck, G. Babino & K. Welch, “CT scans and X-ray analysis of the casts” in M. Osanna, A. Capurso & S.M. Masseroli, eds. I Calchi di Pompeii da Guiseppe Fiorelli ad Oggi. Rome: “L’Erma” di Bretschneider, 2021, 203-224.

Week 4:

C.W. Westfall, “Urban planning, roads, streets and neighbourhoods” in P. Foss, ed. The World of Pompeii, Taylor & Francis Group, 2008, 129-139.

A. Wallace-Hadrill, Herculaneum. Past and Future. London: Francis Lincoln Ltd, 2001. Chapter 6: “The public face of the town”.

Tutorial reading: E. Lazer, Resurrecting Pompeii. Oxon & New York: Routledge, 2009, Chapter 1: “Skeletons as Artefacts”.

Week 5:

J. Berry, The Complete Pompeii. London: Thames & Hudson, 2007. Chapter V: “Life in the Public Eye”.

A.M. Small, “Urban, suburban and rural religion in the Roman period” in P. Foss, ed. The World of Pompeii, Taylor & Francis Group, 2008, 184-211.

Week 6:

J.-P. Adam, “Building materials, construction techniques and chronologies” in P. Foss, ed. The World of Pompeii, Taylor & Francis Group, 2008, 166-176.

J.J. Dobbins, “Appendix to Chapter 8: A note on Roman concrete (opus caementicium) and other wall construction”, in P. Foss, ed. The World of Pompeii, Taylor & Francis Group, 2008,177-180.

A. Wallace-Hadrill, Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2022 – Chapter 4: “Houses and urban texture”.

Week 7:

H. Mouritsen, “Status and social hierarchies: The case of Pompeii” in A. Kuhn, ed. Social Status and Prestige in the Graeco-Roman World. Franz Steiner Verlag,2015, 87-114.

S. Bernard, “Slavery, prosperity and inequality in Roman Pompeii”, Past and Present 2025.

Week 8:

V. Campbell, The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space and Society. London & New York: Routledge, 2014. Chapter 3: “The funerary evidence of Pompeii: An analysis”.

H. Duday & W. Van Andringa, “Archaeology of memory: About the forms and the time of memory in a necropolis of Pompeii”, Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, Supp. Vol. 13 (2017), 73-85.

Week 9:

J. Berry, The Complete Pompeii. London: Thames & Hudson, 2007. Chapter VIII: “Economic life in a Roman town”.

R. Hobbs, “Bes, butting bulls and bars: The life of coinage at Pompeii” in M. Flohr & A. Wilson, eds. The Economy of Pompeii. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017 – Chapter 11.

Week 10:

A.M. Small, “Urban, suburban and rural religion in the Roman period” in P. Foss, ed. The World of Pompeii, Taylor & Francis Group, 2008, 184-211.

J.B. Ward-Perkins & A. Claridge, Pompeii AD79: Treasures from the National Archaeological Museum, Naples and the Pompeii Antiquarium, Italy. Sydney: Australian Gallery Directors’ Council Ltd, 1980, 54-58.

Week 11:

J. Berry, The Complete Pompeii. London: Thames & Hudson, 2007. “Mosaics” 162-167 and “Wall-Painting” 168-177.

K. Lorenz, “Wall painting” in B.E. Borg, ed. A Companion to Roman Art. John Wiley & Sons, 2015, 419-440.

Week 12:

R.S. Garraffoni & R. Laurence, “Writing in public space from child to adult: The meaning of graffiti” in G. Sears, P. Keegan &R. Laurence, eds. Written Space in the Latin West 200 BC to AD 300. London, New Delhi, New York & Sydney: Bloomsbury, 2013 – Chapter 7.

G. Zuchtriegel, L. Petti, V. Calvanese, C.M. De Gaetano, C. Lupo, A. Spinosa & A. Zambriano, “The Pompeii sustainable management model”. Pompeii. E-Journal Scavi di Pompeii 18.12.24. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi_qPbL_7-VAxVPr1YBHR2cBJ4QFnoECBwQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpompeiisites.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F28_E-Journal-The-Pompeii-sustainable-management-model-2.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2DEtvNAtX501RWm_EolN-A&opi=89978449

Week 13:

E.M. Moormann, Pompeii’s Ashes. The Reception of the Cities Buried by Vesuvius in Literature, Music and Drama. Boston, Berlin & Munich: De Gruyter, 2015. Chapter VIII: “Pompeii on stage and screen”.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the inaugural offering of ARCO2111: Pompeii and Herculaneum. Past to Present

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ARCO2111: Pompeii and Herculaneum: Past to Present

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links