The Interview Gabriel Zuchtreigel, Director of Pompeii: Archaeology is the most democratic form of history
Jan 12, 2026
Gabriel Zuchtreigel, Director of Pompeii and a passionate advocate for archaeology, shares his insights on the democratic nature of history through material evidence. He discusses uncovering the lives of everyday people, including the marginalized, and emphasizes addressing issues like looting and the ethics of museum practices. Zuchtreigel recounts the thrill of unexpected discoveries, such as ancient frescoes, and reflects on the emotional impact of human casts. His nocturnal walks around Pompeii reveal a haunting connection to the past.
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Material Evidence Democratizes History
- Archaeology is a more democratic form of history because it relies on material evidence rather than elite-written texts.
- Pompeii preserves both rich and poor contexts so the whole society can be reconstructed.
Pompeii Reveals A Middle Class
- Pompeii reveals social stratification including a recognizable middle class, contradicting the notion ancients had no middle class.
- Excavated slave rooms show daily hardships and let archaeologists reconstruct lives of the less privileged.
Visitors Return Stolen Trinkets Claiming A Curse
- People sometimes take small objects from Pompeii and later return them with stories of misfortune or a supposed curse.
- Gabriel Zuchtreigel receives letters from remorseful takers describing personal tragedies they attribute to the act.
