Classical Archaeology of the Vesuvian Region

The Bay of Naples was an international cultural crossroads in antiquity. Its central location in the Mediterranean basin and its good harbors made it an emporium for travelers and commerce from Western Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and even from Central and Southern Asia. Beginning in the 8th c. bce, numerous Greek and Roman cities, such as Cumae, Neapolis (Naples), Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Baiae, grew and flourished there for over a thousand years. The region was particularly renowned during the Roman period for its luxury villas, built by aristocrats and members of the imperial family. The catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79 significantly changed the landscape on the southeastern side of the bay. Numerous communities that it buried later became archaeological sites whose finds transformed the modern knowledge of Classical antiquity. Ancient towns on the north and northwestern sides of the bay escaped the disaster and continued to flourish throughout the tenure of the Roman Empire.

This course has two main goals. The first is to provide students with an overview of the history and development of the various Greco-Roman cities around the Bay of Naples. This goal will be addressed by an itinerary that will occupy the first eight days and will include visits to the sites of Pithekoussai, Cumae, Baiae, Misenum, Puteoli, Neapolis, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Paestum. Students will study the remains of these sites, learning about their foundation, architecture, and urban development during the period 750 bce – 200 ce. In their adjacent museums, students will learn about pottery, decorative arts, and inscriptions; related readings will illuminate the history, politics, religion, and daily life of their inhabitants. This itinerary will provide a context for the next three weeks of the course.

The second goal is to provide a hands-on training experience on an active archaeological site. During the last three weeks of the course, students will be part of the annual research season of the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation (RAS), an American group engaged in the excavation of the Villa Arianna, a Roman luxury villa located at ancient Stabiae at the southeastern corner of the bay. Midd students will join students from other universities who also will be on the RAS team. Thanks to the initial itinerary of sites, students will understand how the Villa Arianna fits into the context of the Romanization of the region.

In 2016, RAS will be working on the digital graphic documentation of those parts of the Villa Arianna that have already been excavated. Students will learn to use digital instruments for architectural recording. They will also learn how to upload data from these instruments and create 3D digital images of the villa’s architecture. Additional details about the course can be found by clicking the link below.

In addition to the application form, please also email the following information to isutherland@middlebury.edu: description of your experience, if any, with international travel; description of your knowledge of any foreign language; and a written discussion, in your own words, of three specific things that you wish to gain from participation in this course. The emphasis on gain, rather than simply to learn, is intentional. The concept “to gain” can include learning, but also can encompass much more, and is intended to offer you broad latitude in the discussion. The discussion should be at least one double-spaced page in length, but not more than two. Application Deadline: February 26th.



Dates: June 10– July 9, 2016

Program Costs: $6,000 plus travel and personal expenses