Exploiting excavation archives: Herculaneum from 1927 to 1961 as a case-study

A critical reassessment of Herculaneum's excavation archives reveals that the site's historical documentation, long dominated by A. Maiuri's synthesis, is fragmentary and subjective. By analyzing daybooks (Giornale degli scavi di Ercolano) from 1927 to 1961, researchers S. Mols and others uncovered a more nuanced understanding of the site, moving beyond Maiuri's narrative. This approach highlights the challenges and potential of using archival materials to reconstruct archaeological contexts, offering a method for reinterpreting previously excavated sites with greater objectivity.

Monteix, N. (2016). Exploiting excavation archives: Herculaneum from 1927 to 1961 as a case-study. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 29, 423–437. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1047759400072214