The natural history of Pompeii

1. Introduction; 2. The Vesuvian sites before AD 79: the archaeological, literary and epigraphical evidence; 3. Mount Vesuvius before the disaster; 4. The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79; 5. Paleosols of the Pompeii area; 6. Plants: evidence from the wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture, plant remains, graffiti and ancient authors; 7. Pollen analysis of soil samples from the AD 79 surfaces at Pompeii, Oplontis, and Boscoreale; 8. Wood associated with the AD 79 eruption: its chemical characterization by solid state 13 C NMR as a guide to the degree of carbonization; 9. Identification of the wood used in the Furniture at Herculaneum; 10. Dendrochronological investigations at Herculaneum and Pompeii; 11. Environmental changes in and around Lake Avernus in Greek and Roman times: a study of the plant and animal remains preserved in the lake's sediments; 12. Fish: evidence from specimens, mosaics, paintings and ancient authors; 13. Marine invertebrates, fresh-water shells and land snails: evidence from specimens, mosaics, wall paintings, sculpture, jewelry and ancient authors; 14. Insects: evidence from wall paintings, sculpture, mosaics, carbonized remains and ancient authors; 15. Amphibians and reptiles: evidence from wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture, skeletal remains and ancient authors; 16. Birds: evidence from wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture, skeletal remains and ancient authors; 17. Mammals: evidence from wall paintings, sculpture, mosaics, faunal remains and ancient authors; 18. Health and nutrition at Herculaneum: an examination of human skeletal remains; 19. In conclusion.