Abstract. The intent of this article is to distinguish and study some ndimensional compacta (such as weak n-manifolds) with respect to embeddability into products of n curves. We show that if X is a locally connected weak n-manifold lying in a product of n curves, then rank H 1 (X) ≥ n. If rank H 1 (X) = n, then X is an n-torus. Moreover, if rank H 1 (X) < 2n, then X can be presented as a product of an m-torus and a weak (n − m)-manifold, where m ≥ 2n − rank H 1 (X). If rank H 1 (X) < ∞, then X is a polyhedron. It follows that certain 2-dimensional compact contractible polyhedra are not embeddable in products of two curves. On the other hand, we show that any collapsible 2-dimensional polyhedron embeds in a product of two trees. We answer a question of Cauty proving that closed surfaces embeddable in a product of two curves embed in a product of two graphs. We construct a 2-dimensional polyhedron that embeds in a product of two curves but does not embed in a product of two graphs. This solves in the negative another problem of Cauty. We also construct a weak 2-manifold X lying in a product of two graphs such that H 2 (X) = 0.
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