The fascination with the sunken city of Pompeii does not end. Now researchers have found two more victims. However, they did not die from the volcanic eruption.
“Uproar, confusion, escape attempts and in between an earthquake, pumice showers, volcanic ash and hot gases: That was the inferno of the eruption of 79 AD. The living hell in which the inhabitants of the ancient city of Pompeii found themselves, including the two victims , whose skeletons were recently discovered during excavations at the House of the Chaste Lovers.” This is how the archaeologists of the ancient excavation site in Pompeii (Italy) describe their latest find.
The researchers led by Gabriel breeding bar have now published photos of the skeletons on the social media channels of the “Pompeii – Parco Archeologico”. These are victims of the earthquake that accompanied the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, they write.
The house collapsed on the men
How do the excavators know that? Both men show signs of “multiple trauma,” the archeology park said on Tuesday. Means: You were hit in the lower part of a house by the collapsing walls and buried underneath. Remains of another part of the wall also showed the intensity of the earthquake.
Both skeletons were found lying down – the position of one skeleton gives the impression that the man had tried to protect himself with his arm raised. The researchers assume that it was probably two men around the age of 55.
The discovery of the skeletons shows “how much there is still to discover about the terrible eruption of 79 AD,” said Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, according to a statement. “Modern excavation techniques help us to better understand the hell that completely destroyed the city of Pompeii in two days, killing many residents,” emphasized breeding bar. One could come closer to the last moments of the victims with the discoveries.
In the sunken Roman city at the foot of the Vesuvius volcano, archaeologists keep coming across spectacular finds. In 79, after several eruptions of Vesuvius, ash, pumice, mud and lava covered and preserved the ancient city. Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century. Today the park is one of the most popular sights in Italy. So far, only a third of the area of the ancient city has been excavated.
