ProfessorMaryBeard,renownedclassicistandTVhistorian,istoexplorewhatlifewaslikeinoneoftheworld’smostextraordinaryandiconicarchaeologicalsites,inPompeii:LifeBeforeDeath,anewlandmarkprogrammeforBBCOne. MaryBeard–aworldPompeiiexpertandauthorofPompeii:LifeOfARomanTown–willbejoininganinternationalteamastheybringtheverylatesttechnologytobearonthismostextraordinaryofarchaeologicalsites. MaryBeardsays:“ThisisareallyexcitingchancetofindoutmoreabouttheordinarypeoplewholivedinancientPompeii.It'saonceinalifetimeopportunity.I'mhopingwe'regoingtounlocksomeifthesecretsaboutwhothepeoplewere.” Forthefirsttime,ateamisCTscanningandfullyinvestigatingtheworld-famouscastsofthebodiestoanalysetheskeletonstrappedwithin,toascertainalltheycanaboutwhotheywere,wheretheycamefromandhowtheylived.AteamisalsoconductingDNAanalysisofthebodiesforthefirsttime. Elsewhere,thedocumentarywillfollowtheworkofrecoveringdamagedfrescoesandmosaics,theexcavationandrebuildingofcertainkeybuildingsandtheorganisationandcataloguingofthethousandsofastonishingartefactsinthestorerooms–fromloavesofbreadtopetmonkeys,paintpotstopurses.Itwillshinealightontheworkofarchaeologistswhoareexploringthethirdofthetownthathasneverbeenexcavated,andwillpresentauniquefirstlookatthecompletePompeiiinstunningCGI. Usingtheevidencegleanedfromallthisresearch,theBBCOnefilmwillpiecetogetherafullpictureofdailylifeinPompeiibeforethetownwasdestroyedbytheeruptionofVesuviusinAD79.
