Buried by the devastating eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., Herculaneum remained imprisoned for centuries under a 20-meter-high blanket of volcanic ash. A catastrophic eruption that has remarkably preserved houses, furnishings, bodies and many aspects of the daily lives of its inhabitants.
A place often ignored and secondary to the nearby and important Pompeii, but of fundamental importance for understanding the life of the Romans and their habits.
Much over the years has been reconstructed thanks to the discoveries and findings made. Such as the work the ancient Romans did at the time, how their houses were composed, how the eruption happened, how they escaped, and even what they ate and drank.
And this is precisely one of the key aspects on which archaeologists have been fossilized in recent years.
A sensational discovery in the sewers of Herculaneum
Thanks to the sewage system of the city of Herculaneum, it was possible to reconstruct the eating habits, lifestyle and health of the Herculaneum population.
Details and particulars that cannot be found in Pompeii because of the different mode of eruption that occurred in the two places. In fact, although the two cities were simultaneously buried by the same eruption in Herculaneum details can be found that are not there in Pompeii.
While Pompeii was covered mainly by ash and lapilli, Herculaneum was buried by a flow of volcanic mud and pyroclastic material that hardened, preserving in greater detail parts of the city. This mud acted as a real natural “seal,” preserving not only buildings and furniture, but also underground structures such as sewers and their excrement.
And it is from examining the fossilized excrement found within these sewers that archaeologists have been able to reconstruct an important part of this city. Valuable information that is fundamental to reassembling the lifestyles of the Herculanean inhabitants, their habits and their way of cooking and eating.
In fact, Herculaneum’s sewers were part of a sophisticated hydraulic system designed to dispose of domestic waste and sewage. Many of these pipes ran under the main streets and wealthier houses. Recent excavations have explored significant parts of this system, finding a gold mine of information about the lives of the ancient Romans.
What did the ancient Herculaneans eat
Studies of the unearthed organic remains have reconstructed a varied and relatively rich diet consisting of foods that included grains, fruits such as figs, pears, apples, grapes. Eggs, vegetables, meat, fish including sea bream, eels, sea bass, rays, anchovies, and even sharks.
From the examination of the fossilized droppings, it was also possible to reconstruct how these foods were cooked. Mainly they used celery seeds, coriander, fennel, black pepper that came from India. Which makes us understand not only the way of cooking but also how Herculaneum was well connected commercially with other states.
The sewers of Herculaneum thus represent a real window into the daily life of the Roman city. An authentic slice of life, often undocumented in historical sources. Through the study of this waste, it is possible to reconstruct not only what the inhabitants ate and drank, but also how they lived.
This important research gives us a better understanding of the common life of the people who inhabited Herculaneum before Vesuvius decreed its tragic end.
Discover the life and habits of its ancient inhabitants by visiting Herculaneum together with an expert tour guide.
