Pompeii’s Baths: From Polluted Wells to a Stable Aqueduct
TL;DR
Geochemical analysis of calcium carbonate deposits in Pompeii’s wells, baths, and aqueducts shows a shift from polluting deep wells to a stable aqueduct supply; pollutants in Republican Baths reveal inconsistent refilling, while the aqueduct era likely improved hygiene before the AD 79 eruption.
- New Research Exposes the Good and the Gross in Pompeii’s Baths Gizmodo
- Pompeii’s public baths were unhygienic until the Romans took over New Scientist
- Switching water sources improved hygiene of Pompeii’s public baths Ars Technica
- Hygienic conditions in Pompeii's early baths were poor, according to isotope analysis Phys.org
- Mineral deposits reveal Pompeii's bathing culture preserved under the ashes of Mount Vesuvius Yahoo News Canada
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