Pompeii, Insula IX.3 : a case study of urban infrastructure
This thesis takes insula IX.3 in Pompeii as a case study and examines how life-sustaining basic utilities and services were made available in this city block. The evidence comes in the form of finds, as documented by nineteenth-century excavators, and structures, either those still standing or those discovered during recent excavations by the Expeditio Pompeiana Universitatis Helsingiensis. Building on concepts deriving from consumption studies and studies of humans and their material culture, this thesis focuses on patterns and non-conformity, and approaches observed phenomena from the point of view of need and desire, cost and efficiency, ownership and law. An analysis of broad-ranging evidence is made possible by operating at a city block level, and patterns can be recognized because the city block contains 19 units. Comparative material and written sources are used to put the evidence in context. Some of the evidence conforms to previously-identified patterns while other evidence reveals new patterns, to be tested further in other contexts. It is shown that basic utilities and services were generally readily available. Nonetheless, there are clear differences between units, and some parts of the city block
YnnilaÌ, Heini Maria
Roman archeology ; Economic and Social History ; Archeology ; Materials studies (archaeology) ; Architecture ; Settlement
Pompeii, Insula IX.3 : a case study of urban infrastructure. This thesis takes insula IX.3 in Pompeii as a case study and examines how life-sustaining basic utilities and services were made available in this city block. The evidence comes in the form of finds, as documented by nineteenth-century excavators, and structures, either those still standing or those discovered during recent excavations by the Expeditio Pompeiana Universitatis Helsingiensis. Building on concepts deriving from consumption studies and studies of humans and their material culture, this thesis focuses on patterns and non-conformity, and approaches observed phenomena from the point of view of need and desire, cost and efficiency, ownership and law. An analysis of broad-ranging evidence is made possible by operating at a city block level, and patterns can be recognized because the city block contains 19 units. Comparative material and written sources are used to put the evidence in context. Some of the evidence conforms to previously-identified patterns while other evidence reveals new patterns, to be tested further in other contexts. It is shown that basic utilities and services were generally readily available. Nonetheless, there are clear differences between units, and some parts of the city block
pompeii case_study urban infrastructure take pompeii case_study examine life sustaining basic utility service make_available city block evidence come form find document nineteenth_century excavator structure either still stand discover recent_excavation building concept derive consumption study study humans material_culture focus pattern non conformity approach observed phenomenon point_view need_desire cost efficiency ownership law analysis broad evidence make_possible operate city block level pattern recognize city block contain unit comparative_material write_source use put evidence context evidence conforms previously identified pattern evidence_reveals new pattern test context show_basic utility service generally readily available nonetheless clear_difference unit part city block