Archaeological discovery: New skeletons discovered in Pompeii

Archaeologists have discovered two new skeletons in the ruins of the Italian city of Pompeii.

The two, possibly men of about 55, were found during excavations in the neighborhood called De kyske elskere (Casti Amanti).

The men may have died in the earthquake that struck the city at the same time as the violent volcanic eruption in 79.

It may appear that they lost their lives when a wall collapsed and fell on top of them in the room where they had taken refuge.

– Recently, we realized that there were violent and powerful seismic events that occurred at the same time as the volcanic eruption, Gabriel Zuchtregel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, tells the AP news agency.

One of them appears to have raised an arm as if to protect himself, while the other may have died when the roof collapsed on them.

A was found

To date, the remains of more than 1,300 people have been found after the archaeological site was rediscovered some 250 years ago.

In November 2020 at the latest, archaeologists discovered two figures believed to be a young slave and his master.

The last two were found in a building where the colorful frescoes and skeletons of mules who pulled millstones for grain were previously found. The men were found lying on their sides in a fetal position, with one of them holding a ring in his left hand.

A cloud of gas and ash

Archaeologists believe that 15 to 20 percent of Pompeii’s population died in the explosion, mostly from heat shock as a huge cloud of gas and ash enveloped the city.

Earthquakes before and after the eruption were documented by the Roman author Pliny the Younger, who also mentioned that many died in them.

The archaeological park said in a press release that the collapse of the walls during the earthquake proved to be a mortal threat and an important cause of death in Pompeii.

– There is still a lot to discover

New technology is now helping archaeologists “better understand the inferno that completely destroyed the city of Pompeii in two days and claimed the lives of children, women and men,” says Pompeii’s director Gabriel Zuchtregel.

– The discovery of the skeletons shows that there is still much to discover about the terrible eruption in 79, Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sanguliano says in a statement.

Traces of what was probably a small bundle of cloth were found beside one of the men, along with a necklace and some coins.

In the room there was also a vase and a set of bowls and jugs, while in the next room there was a wall painting and a narrow bathroom with a toilet.

The city was well preserved when it was covered in ash, mud and lava. It was rediscovered in the eighteenth century and today it is one of the most popular attractions in Italy.