Diana Blumberg

An archaeological scientist at Newcastle University, Diana specialises in the study and analysis of archaeological materials. Her work reveals what objects can tell us about the technologies, trade networks and daily lives of people in the ancient world, making her particularly well placed to lead Travel Editions tours exploring Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Diana has extensive practical fieldwork experience in both Italy and the United Kingdom. She has worked as an artefacts specialist at archaeological field schools in Pompeii and Portus, the vast harbour complex that served ancient Rome. She lived in Rome for a number of years and has previously led walking tours of the city.

Alongside her fieldwork, Diana works in Newcastle University’s Wolfson Archaeology Laboratory. Her teaching experience includes lifelong learning classes in classical archaeology at the University of Southampton and undergraduate lectures at the University of Winchester.

In 2024, Diana played a pivotal role in identifying what is believed to be the first Tyrian purple pigment ever discovered in northern Europe. Working on material excavated from a Roman bathhouse at Carlisle Cricket Club — the largest single building yet discovered along Hadrian’s Wall — she carried out the analysis that established the pigment’s composition and its connection to the third-century world of the emperor Septimius Severus.

Diana combines scientific expertise with a detailed knowledge of Roman archaeology. On tour, she helps travellers understand how pottery, glass, pigments and everyday objects can illuminate the people who lived in the ancient cities they visit, bringing an additional layer of insight to some of Italy’s most remarkable archaeological sites.