The roof and suspended ceiling of the marble room in the House of the Telephus Relief at Herculaneum

A remarkable discovery of exceptionally well-preserved timber structures, including a roof and suspended ceiling, was unearthed during drainage work at Herculaneum's ancient shoreline. The timbers, buried under volcanic material from the A.D. 79 eruption, spanned approximately 55 meters beneath the House of the Telephus Relief. Analysis by CNR-IVALSA revealed that nearly all samples belonged to the silver fir species (Abies alba), showcasing the unique preservation conditions that protected the wood from carbonization. This finding provides unprecedented insights into Roman architectural techniques and materials, contributing significantly to our understanding of ancient construction practices.

Camardo, D., & Notomista, M. (2015). The roof and suspended ceiling of the marble room in the House of the Telephus Relief at Herculaneum. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 28, 39–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1047759415002408