iPad Pro transforms archaeological workflow at Pompeii excavations

Archaeologists from Tulane University used iPad Pro devices during the Pompeii I.14 project last summer to document and analyze finds from an ancient Roman kitchen. Allison Emmerson, professor at Tulane and excavation director, stated that the iPad is the perfect tool for archaeology, enabling faster, more accurate, and secure data collection. Working with archaeologist Alex Elvis Badillo, they integrated the device into professional practice, developing new in-situ techniques. The iPad's LiDAR scanner, typically used for aerial topographic mapping, has led to revolutionary discoveries. Jordan Rogers, professor at Carleton College and excavation supervisor, noted that traditional paper-and-pen recording required hours of manual data transfer each night, whereas the iPad automates archiving and online accessibility. The five-week summer excavation, set to continue in 2023 and 2024, challenged initial hypotheses that the kitchen dated to the 2nd or 3rd century BCE. A rare coin commissioned by Emperor Augustus suggests a later date around the 1st century CE, shortly before Vesuvius's eruption. Contrary to theories that Pompeii was in decline before the eruption, Emmerson noted evidence of dining room improvements indicating a flourishing city.