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Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius speaker

Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius speaker - Roman Italy

Speaker on Pompeii, Herculaneum and VesuviusPompeii: Vesuvius' legacy and warning

Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy's Bay of Naples were destroyed but also preserved by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, as searingly hot avalanches of ash overran them. Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was buried to a depth of only 4m and an exploration of its excavated streets and buildings can teach us much about the Roman way of life. Herculaneum, buried to a depth of 20m, presented a more challenging excavation but has preserved taller buildings and while a smaller site, is an extremely dramatic one.

Using my expertise as a guide to Pompeii, I explore this fascinating site and unravel what can be learnt from it. Multiple visits have allowed me to build up a library of great images, videos, stories and insights.

Speaker on Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius But Mt. Vesuvius still looms over all, and threatens one of the most densely populated areas of Europe, making it the most dangerous volcano in the world. I use my geology background to examine the likelihood of it erupting again, what the consequences would be, and assess the emergency evacuation plans.





"David’s talk on Pompeii to the Thirteen Society was highly informative as well as entertaining. The excellent graphics allied to David’s lucid explanations meant that the audience left knowing much more about volcanic eruptions and their consequences for populations who choose to live close by. The talk went very well and everyone enjoyed it. People were impressed with the slides and video clips which came over very well. As on his previous visits he was excellent.”
The Thirteen Society, Kingswood (Pompeii, 2016)
"Thank you so much for delivering such an illuminating talk on Pompeii last night. The animation of the day of the eruption was absolutely fascinating and the Pathe News shots from the 1944 eruption were intriguing. I especially enjoyed the photo of the American servicemen making toast. Your insight into the restoration of the site was most interesting and we all enjoyed the artwork, both serious and light hearted. A truly wide ranging presentation.”
Rosie Spalding, Guildford Travel Club (Pompeii, 2016)
“I thought the presentation was excellent. That’s how it should be done. Smooth, a bit of humour, plus keeping it moving. The combination of stills, movie, plus animation was great. It was a very good evening and an example of what we, Friends of Ravenna, exists for – real Italy, warts and all.”
Mike Bonser, Friends of Ravenna, Chichester (Pompeii, 2019)


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