Year 12 Ancient History Virtual Incursion

On Tuesday 10 February, our Year 12 Ancient History class had the privilege of participating in a virtual incursion with Dr Estelle Lazer, a world renowned forensic archaeologist and honorary associate at the University of Sydney, whose work is a cornerstone of our HSC study.

Dr Lazer is a leading expert on the human remains of Pompeii, famously known for her pioneering work using forensic techniques and CT scanning to study the victims of the 79 AD Mount Vesuvius eruption. 

During her visit, she shared fascinating insights into her work with the Great Pompeii Project, specifically focusing on how she uses medical imaging to look inside the famous plaster casts. She explained how these non-invasive scans allow researchers to see the skeletons, dental records and even artifacts trapped within the plaster without damaging the remains. This detailed analysis gave our class a clearer picture of the health, nutrition and daily lifestyle of the people of Pompeii. 

It was an invaluable experience for our class to hear from someone whose research is so central to our HSC Core Study: Cities of Vesuvius. Seeing the real people of the ancient world through the lens of modern science has given us a fresh perspective on our syllabus and a deeper appreciation for the ethics of handling human remains. We are incredibly grateful to Dr Lazer for sharing her time and valuable expertise with us and also a huge thank you to Mrs O’Halloran for organising such an inspiring session!

Leyla, Year 12