POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT: PORTA STABIA (PARP:PS)

The University of Cincinnati's PARP:PS project started in 2005 with a mission to gain a better insight into life in a middle-class Pompeiian neighborhood. Excavations in insulae I.1 and VIII.7 were carried out until 2012; the project still returns to site seasonally to work on pre-publication of the excavation. Further information on the project's methodologies, resources, and publications can be viewed here.

Scope of excavation

From 2005 - 2012, PARP:PS carried out seasonal excavations in insulae VIII.7 and I.1. These neighboring city blocks had been excavated down to their 79 CE levels upon Pompeii's re-discovery; this project placed targeted trenches throughout the blocks and excavated down to paleolithic laval outcropping or sterile soil in a bid to better understand how this commercial corner of the city developed over time.

Excavation documentation

PARP:PS was an early adopter of tablet computers used in the field, which made on-site stratigraphy recording a much faster process. Because stratigraphic photographs could be taken and altered on the same device. In-trench tablet computers also made data entry of individual straigraphic units a breeze. Presently, I edit sectional drawings like the one above to be suitable for publication.

Artifact documentation

Like any archaeological project, PARP:PS documents artifacts in several ways. Pottery that is considered for publication is drawn by a team and digitized on-site; artifacts are photographed and, if needed, drawn. As the supervisor of illustration, I oversee the team, develop the workflow, and incorproate a cohesive technical style into publication materials.