Details of Doctoral Thesis
The Wood Fuel Supply to Pompeii : an environmental, historical and economic study: 3rd c. BC to AD 79. (Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, 2009).
The thesis examined charcoal remains from four sites in Pompeii, and interpreted the results in light of the literary, archaeological and modern phytosociological evidence. The results showed patterns of wood selection for various cultural uses. The major taxon identified was a montane species, Fagus sylvatica, (beech), and it was found to be the preferred wood fuel in every site, constituting between 50-80% (depending on the time period) of fragments identified. Beech only grows well above ca. 1000-1200m in central Italy (in the modern period, but possibly slightly lower in anicent times). Suitable sites were at least 15-25 km away from Pompeii in the surrounding mountain area. Sources of taphonomic bias were considered, together with indicators of wood management from tree ring patterns. Alternative mechanisms for the wood supply were developed in light of evidence about land ownership and trade systems in the hinterland; and evidence for transport by land and river on the Campanian plain, and by coastal sea routes. The size of the wood fuel economy at the AD79 level was estimated using linear modelling. The study offered refinements to adapt charcoal theory and methodology to suit a complex urban environment, providing a foundation for future work in the area. To be published in book form by Accordia (London).
The thesis examined charcoal remains from four sites in Pompeii, and interpreted the results in light of the literary, archaeological and modern phytosociological evidence. The results showed patterns of wood selection for various cultural uses. The major taxon identified was a montane species, Fagus sylvatica, (beech), and it was found to be the preferred wood fuel in every site, constituting between 50-80% (depending on the time period) of fragments identified. Beech only grows well above ca. 1000-1200m in central Italy (in the modern period, but possibly slightly lower in anicent times). Suitable sites were at least 15-25 km away from Pompeii in the surrounding mountain area. Sources of taphonomic bias were considered, together with indicators of wood management from tree ring patterns. Alternative mechanisms for the wood supply were developed in light of evidence about land ownership and trade systems in the hinterland; and evidence for transport by land and river on the Campanian plain, and by coastal sea routes. The size of the wood fuel economy at the AD79 level was estimated using linear modelling. The study offered refinements to adapt charcoal theory and methodology to suit a complex urban environment, providing a foundation for future work in the area. To be published in book form by Accordia (London).
