Plot Synopsis

POMPEII: THE NEW DIG is a three-part documentary that follows the most extensive archaeological excavation in Pompeii for a generation. Nearly two years in the making, with exclusive access to the dig and the all-Italian team of archaeologists, the series follows the excavation of an entire city block, unearthing what life was like in Pompeii before the eruption and the horror faced by the victims, and those who survived when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Remarkably, in the excavation, archaeologists uncovered a fresco that looked like a pizza. This artwork, dating back 2,000 years, was discovered in the Regio IX section of Pompeii's archeological park, near Naples, where pizza originated. It was found on a wall in what seems to have been a hallway of a house, possibly connected to a bakery. POMPEII: THE NEW DIG made its U.S. debut on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 10pm on PBS (check local listings). Episodes include:

"The Bodies" (U.S. debut on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 10pm): Archaeologists embark on the biggest dig in a generation at Pompeii. Told through the drama of the dig, imagine what life was like in Pompeii before the eruption and the horror faced by the residents as Vesuvius erupted in AD 79.

"Escape" (U.S. debut on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10pm): A new excavation in Pompeii continues to unearth rich discoveries. Professor Steven Tuck of Miami University joins the team to look for evidence of Pompeiians who might have survived the eruption of AD 79.

"The Final Hours" (U.S. debut on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 10pm): In Pompeii, the excavation of a wealthy villa, bakery, and laundry reaches its peak. Chilling details about what people were doing in the final terrifying hours of AD 79 are revealed. As the eruption began to subside, were they over the worst?