“Newly Discovered Skeletons Shed Light on the Tragic End of Pompeii and Herculaneum”

The excavations in Pompeii continue! Few archaeological sites have been excavated as long as that of Pompeii in Italy, since the first excavations date back to the year 1748. Over time, several thousand remains in the form of skeletons have been discovered during excavations. Enough to allow archaeologists to better understand the causes of the death of individuals, but also the chronology of events. Two new victims in skeletal form were discovered and announced by the authorities.

A disaster scenario

One must imagine an episode of great confusion on this day of terror in Italy. A few warning signs in the form of an earthquake occurred a few days before the start of the eruption. In two days, the world of the inhabitants of this area of ​​Campania turns to tragedy. An explosion is heard, then an eruptive column rises in the sky reaching several tens of kilometers in height. All night long, volcanic stones fall on the houses and the meters pile up. And following this difficult and frightening night, in the early morning, a pyroclastic flow descends the slope of Vesuvius depositing many ashes on the pumice stones already piled up. Then, a second flow, very fast, hot and violent follows, mowing down those who had not been killed by the falling rocks or the collapses.

The volcano is not the only cause of death

For many, the causes of death in Pompeii would be due only to the volcanic eruption itself. As we have seen, in view of the events, these volcanic manifestations were the source of a very large number of deaths. Nevertheless, the last two skeletons present positions and fractures that suggest another type of death on the site: those related to the collapses in connection with the seismic events of the eruption.

The analyzes of the two bodies showed a large number of fractures following the collapse of the building. The two victims were probably men around 55 years old, and they were carrying some coins with them. One of them raised his arm in an attempt to protect himself. They tried to take refuge in this room which served as a laundry room. In this room, amphoras were found as well as items of crockery.

Keep digging to understand the disaster

By discovering new victims, it is possible to better understand the events, the survival attempts and more. Indeed, the in-depth analyzes of the skeletons make it possible to understand the standard of living of the individuals who lived there, their illnesses or their way of life. Thus, by allowing this type of study, a complete portrait can be made of the living people of Pompeii at the time of the eruption.