Streets of Pompeii
Analysis of the artefact:
These streets of Pompeii are made out of lava from Mount Vesuvius, and covered in broken terracotta and fat lime cement. The preserved streets help us to see the normal roads that people both traveled along for trade and lived on in Ancient Rome. The streets were made for two-way traffic for the use of carts, however there were one-way traffic streets made. Most streets were no wider than 3 metres across. What is not seen in streets throughout other parts of Rome are the high kerbs and stepping stones placed throughout the road. The kerbs were unusually high as the streets were often cleaned to get rid of debris, so higher kerbs would allow the water to run through the streets without affecting pedestrians. Stepping stones placed regularly throughout the roads were used for pedestrians to cross the street, and could be considered as the first pedestrian crossings. These stepping stones were used as the streets would often be filled with rainwater, animal manure or other general waste, and as a result people would not want to walk through the streets in case their feet got dirty. To combat this, these stepping stones were placed in the streets so that people could cross the roads without dirtying their feet. At the same time, these stepping stones were spaced far enough apart so that carts could still pass through the streets easily. Along the roadside were the houses or apartments that most plebeians lived in, which also doubled as shops. What remains of these buildings along the road were most probably the shops that owners rented out to businesses, and what would have been above these shops were apartments that plebeians lived in. Shop owners, as well as other plebeians lived in these apartments in extremely poor conditions. There was no access to water or electricity, and there were no windows in these apartments which led to the use of oil lamps that increased the risk of fire.
These streets of Pompeii are made out of lava from Mount Vesuvius, and covered in broken terracotta and fat lime cement. The preserved streets help us to see the normal roads that people both traveled along for trade and lived on in Ancient Rome. The streets were made for two-way traffic for the use of carts, however there were one-way traffic streets made. Most streets were no wider than 3 metres across. What is not seen in streets throughout other parts of Rome are the high kerbs and stepping stones placed throughout the road. The kerbs were unusually high as the streets were often cleaned to get rid of debris, so higher kerbs would allow the water to run through the streets without affecting pedestrians. Stepping stones placed regularly throughout the roads were used for pedestrians to cross the street, and could be considered as the first pedestrian crossings. These stepping stones were used as the streets would often be filled with rainwater, animal manure or other general waste, and as a result people would not want to walk through the streets in case their feet got dirty. To combat this, these stepping stones were placed in the streets so that people could cross the roads without dirtying their feet. At the same time, these stepping stones were spaced far enough apart so that carts could still pass through the streets easily. Along the roadside were the houses or apartments that most plebeians lived in, which also doubled as shops. What remains of these buildings along the road were most probably the shops that owners rented out to businesses, and what would have been above these shops were apartments that plebeians lived in. Shop owners, as well as other plebeians lived in these apartments in extremely poor conditions. There was no access to water or electricity, and there were no windows in these apartments which led to the use of oil lamps that increased the risk of fire.
Developed conclusions:
This artefact is unique to our understanding of Roman social life, because throughout Rome most of the original houses and streets have been demolished to make way for more modern structures. Here in Pompeii, there are large expanses of Roman streets and original Roman housing left perfectly intact for over 2000 years, for archaeologists to examine. Though a large majority of the houses have lost their upper levels due to the eruption, the period in which they were covered in ash, and the excavations that were undertaken that may have damaged the houses, there is still enough remaining of the lower levels to get an idea of what it was like to live in Ancient Rome. Most of the levels that are left are the areas that were used as shops, so this provides us with a unique look at the general size of most shops and what most would have looked like inside, including how they would have connected to the houses. This is something that can not be found in other sites as most have eventually collapsed due to their age and the eventual modernization of Rome. In Pompeii however the ash managed to keep the buildings relatively well preserved and have allowed other small details to remain apparent even after 2000 years. This can be seen in the wheel ruts that have remained in many of the roads, which became etched into the road due to the constant traffic and heavy loads that traveled along the streets. Another example of a detail that has remained in Pompeii that hasn't in other areas of Rome is the stepping stones which pedestrians used to cross the street. This has not been found anywhere else, though the closest example that may be found is the use of pedestrian crossings. These stepping stones are unique to this site as they show us how Romans noticed a problem that they had in regards to their sewage system, and how they came up with a solution that has reemerged today.
This artefact is unique to our understanding of Roman social life, because throughout Rome most of the original houses and streets have been demolished to make way for more modern structures. Here in Pompeii, there are large expanses of Roman streets and original Roman housing left perfectly intact for over 2000 years, for archaeologists to examine. Though a large majority of the houses have lost their upper levels due to the eruption, the period in which they were covered in ash, and the excavations that were undertaken that may have damaged the houses, there is still enough remaining of the lower levels to get an idea of what it was like to live in Ancient Rome. Most of the levels that are left are the areas that were used as shops, so this provides us with a unique look at the general size of most shops and what most would have looked like inside, including how they would have connected to the houses. This is something that can not be found in other sites as most have eventually collapsed due to their age and the eventual modernization of Rome. In Pompeii however the ash managed to keep the buildings relatively well preserved and have allowed other small details to remain apparent even after 2000 years. This can be seen in the wheel ruts that have remained in many of the roads, which became etched into the road due to the constant traffic and heavy loads that traveled along the streets. Another example of a detail that has remained in Pompeii that hasn't in other areas of Rome is the stepping stones which pedestrians used to cross the street. This has not been found anywhere else, though the closest example that may be found is the use of pedestrian crossings. These stepping stones are unique to this site as they show us how Romans noticed a problem that they had in regards to their sewage system, and how they came up with a solution that has reemerged today.