Pompeii: New discoveries, child’s amulet, ordinary life objects

In Pompeii’s ongoing restoration project, the recent excavation of a previously unexplored home revealed new discoveries that provide a window into ordinary Roman life. I enjoyed reading about these small, somewhat humble items in my morning paper today in a Sacramento Bee article, “Pompeii cupboard opens window onto life before Vesuvius blew.“

Protecting that Toddler with a Noisy Necklace

One of the most appealing and intriguing items is a child’s necklace with “at least 24 objects made of bone, glass paste, earthenware and rock crystal, including images of the gods Bes and Mercury, as well as miniature hands, feet, pine cones and bunches of grapes.” The article says Roman children wore this kind of protective amulet, called crepundia. I am familiar with the small round bulla Roman boys wore as amulets, but this sort of necklace was new to me. Crepundia means a rattle in Latin.

The Pompeii site director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, suggests the necklace offered two sources of protection. First, from the gods invoked by the small figures and objects. Second, from the noise it made when the child ran around, helping parents keep track of an active toddler–hence the name crepundia. Rather like a bell on a wandering goat or cat, but with a much more treasured creature to protect. I love this detail.

Keepsake amid the Business of Daily Life

Intriguingly, the necklace doesn’t appear to have been in use on a child, but rather kept for its sentimental value. Someone stored it in a cupboard along with cooking pots, glass and ceramic vessels and bottles, a set of lead weights used in trade, and a small woven bag of coins. That the coins and the childhood memento were left untouched indicates the owner had no time to retrieve them after the volcanic disaster struck.

Of these ordinary Pompeii new discoveries, Zuchtriegel says, “The value of this discovery lies in the possibility of reading together the different traces of a life: personal habits, work and memories.”

1912 and Today in Pompeii

Excavators uncovered the facade of the home as long ago as 1912, but only now are archaeologists painstakingly investigating the rooms behind. Countering erosion and water damage to areas of Pompeii brought on the recent years’ protective excavations. Frankly, the care and precision of archaeology now is so much better that we can all say thanks to chance that left buried these objects of daily life. For too long in the early days of “archaeology”, only the “big” stuff, the dramatic artworks etc. received attention and preservation. As a writer of fiction set in the ancient world, I can attest to how essential the small, daily objects are to understanding the rhythms and threads of real life in any culture.

Further Reading on Pompeii New Discoveries

I have a number of posts highlighting different new Pompeii discoveries over the last few years. Here are the titles linked to those posts.

Archaeology: Grab a Hot Snack in Pompeii

Archaeology: Ceremonial Chariot in Pompeii

Archaeology: Cook-shop in Pompeii

Pompeiian Slave Quarters: the other side of Roman Life

Archeo-pizza in Pompeii

Trojan Frescoes, Newly Uncovered in Pompeii