Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6pm, Strong Hall, room 407

Where’s the loo is a question that even modern tourists to Pompeii frequently wonder. The location of sanitation facilities has important ramifications for function of sanitation systems and management of waste. Several seasons of fieldwork have led to a more precise understanding of private latrines and downpipes in Pompeii. While multi-seat latrines from the Roman world have drawn more interest, private latrines hold a wealth of information about the everyday lives of ancient Romans.

A related feat of Roman engineering, Pompeii’s remarkable water distribution system shapes the very character of the city from its network of water towers to its public fountains. Drinkable water and the strategies used to get it are at the heart of every sustainable society and Roman Pompeii is no exception. Recent fieldwork to investigate the fountain and water tower system found at Pompeii resulted in new understandings of how people acquired water for daily use.