Wednesdays, July 16 - Aug. 6, 2025 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport + Encore Sundays, July 20 - Aug. 10 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2
From the renowned creators of “Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb” and “Saving Venice,” POMPEII: THE NEW DIG 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.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: “The Bodies” encore Wednesday, July 16 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, July 20 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - 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.
Episode 2: “Escape” - encore Wednesday, July 23 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, July 27 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - 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.
Episode 3: “The Final Hours” encore Wednesday, July 30 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, Aug. 3 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - 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?
Episode 4: "House of Treasures" encore Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, Aug. 10 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - House of Treasures, follows the latest revelations as the biggest archaeological dig in Pompeii for a generation reaches its climax – a woman found with pearl earrings, elaborate mosaics and a private spa and gym are among the new discoveries.
Watch On Your Schedule: POMPEII: THE NEW DIG will be available to stream with the PBS App. Watch the best of PBS anytime, anywhere on the free PBS app. Stream your favorite PBS shows on-demand and livestream shows from your local station, all from your favorite device.
Credits: Lion Television, All3Media International, commissioned by BBC Two in a co-production with Arte France and PBS
