The Wooden Treasures of Herculaneum

Herculaneum is often described as the sister city to Pompeii, both destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Yet Herculaneum stands apart in important ways. It preserves an extraordinary number of wooden objects, which are rarely found at ancient sites. These remains provide a unique and detailed glimpse into everyday Roman life.

Wood rarely survives from antiquity, but at Herculaneum it was preserved by the intense heat and volcanic material. As a result, archaeologists have recovered everything from furniture to religious shrines. These objects were crafted by Roman carpenters, known as fabri, who are also depicted in frescoes and reliefs throughout the ancient world.

One remarkable discovery is a wooden boat found in the city’s western baths. Nearby, a vertical winch used to pull boats ashore still survives. Traces of red paint remain on the boat’s prow, offering a rare hint of the colors that once filled the ancient city.

Color played an important role in Roman design, though it is often lost over time. A striking example comes from the House of the Telephos, where archaeologists uncovered fragments of a wooden ceiling in 2009. Made of fir and decorated with geometric patterns, the ceiling included painted details in Egyptian blue and cinnabar red. It has since been reconstructed, revealing its original richness.

Wooden objects also appear throughout domestic spaces. Beds, tables, and even a small crib show the high level of craftsmanship in everyday items. A spruce bed features a headboard with geometric inlays. A table made of white fir and rosewood includes one of the earliest known examples of intarsio, a decorative wood inlay technique. In the House of Marcus Pilius Primigenius, archaeologists found an oak crib alongside the remains of five adults and a baby. This discovery is a stark reminder of the human toll of the eruption.

Herculaneum also preserves evidence of religious life through wooden lararia, or household shrines. These small structures were dedicated to ancestral gods and protective spirits. Some were large and carefully constructed from fir and poplar, with decorative elements such as marble column capitals and painted details. At their center stood small figures of deities, including the Lares, guardian spirits believed to protect the household and its ancestors, and the Genius, the personal protective spirit of the head of the family. Other gods, such as Jupiter, Fortuna, Hercules, Mercury, and Venus, could also be represented. Some shrines were even built into cabinets, combining religious and practical functions.

Other everyday items have also been discovered. Wooden frames for wax tablets served as notebooks in the Roman world. Small wooden boxes, sometimes decorated with bronze, were used to store coins and functioned like wallets. Many of these were found on people who were trying to escape the disaster.

One of the most famous sites in Herculaneum is the Villa of the Papyri. This luxurious residence has produced finely crafted wooden furniture, including tables and tripods inlaid with ivory. Decorative carvings, such as dancing female figures and images of Bacchus, reflect both artistic skill and religious symbolism. These objects highlight the wealth and sophistication of the villa’s owners.

Together, these wooden artifacts provide rare and valuable insight into daily life in the Roman world. Because wood usually decays, such objects are almost never preserved. The unique conditions at Herculaneum allow us to study them today and better understand the people who lived there.

Bibliography:

• Altares, Guillermo. “Herculaneum, the Roman City Destroyed by Vesuvius That Still Hides Its Mysteries.” El País. July 31, 2023. https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-07-31/herculaneum-the-roman-city-destroyed-by-vesuvius-that-still-hides-its-mysteries.html
• Mols, Stephan T. A. M. Wooden Furniture in Herculaneum: Form, Technique and Function. Leiden: Brill, 2020.
• Williams, Megan. “Exhibit of Precious Wood Items Buried by Vesuvius Eruption Offers Glimpse into Everyday Life in Ancient Rome.” CBC News. December 20, 2022. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/herculaneum-vesuvius-eruption-wood-buried-exhibit-1.6677630