Timber-Framing Construction in Herculaneum Archaeological Site: Characterisation and Main Reasons for its Diffusion

Archaeological evidence from Herculaneum reveals that timber-framing construction, known as opus craticium, was widely used during the Augustan Principate due to high demand for new constructions and repairs. The technique's pervasiveness is attributed to rapid urban development and the need for durable structures, while its preservation is linked to the anaerobic conditions created by the 79 AD Vesuvian eruption. This study highlights a dichotomy between historical accounts of timber-framing and actual construction practices, using literature review and on-site analysis, with Casa a Graticcio serving as a key example.

Stellacci, S., & Rato, V. (2019). Timber-Framing Construction in Herculaneum Archaeological Site: Characterisation and Main Reasons for its Diffusion. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 15(9), 1301–1319. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2019.1672827