Public hygiene and medieval waste disposal: a lecture in Viterbo

Public hygiene and medieval waste disposal: a lecture in Viterbo

On Friday 20 March the Museo Nazionale Etrusco at Rocca Albornoz will present a talk focused on reconstructing daily life in medieval towns through the study of waste and public hygiene practices.

• Date: Friday 20 March
• Time: 17:00
• Venue: Museo Nazionale Etrusco – Rocca Albornoz, Viterbo
• Speaker: Prof. Giuseppe Romagnoli, Medieval Archaeology, University of Tuscia

The lecture examines how urban excavations—especially domestic refuse deposits and so-called "refuse wells"—act as material archives. Through the study of pottery, everyday objects, food remains and environmental traces, archaeologists can reconstruct consumption habits, patterns of use and reuse, dietary models and changes in the urban landscape.

Why it matters: waste deposits provide direct evidence of everyday practices that are often absent from written records. In Viterbo, comparing archaeological finds with medieval municipal statutes helps link formal regulations to actual behavior within the urban community.

The event is part of a series designed to bring recent archaeological research closer to the public and to highlight museums as places of knowledge and civic engagement. It offers a scientific and practical perspective on medieval urban management and the relationships between people, environment and built space.

For entry details and updates, please consult the official website or social channels of the Museo Nazionale Etrusco at Rocca Albornoz.