The ruins of Pompeii continue to produce fascinating pieces of history that tell scientists more about the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. The latest find reported by archaeologists could help us understand how people thought during the disaster in the moments before its inevitable end.
Published in a new report Pompeii Archaeological Park E-Magazine showcases archaeologists' latest findings at the Insula 10 site of Region IX in Pompeii. They found a room containing the skeletons of two eruption victims, a man and a woman. The woman was found on a bed with gold, silver and bronze coins, as well as some jewelry, including a pair of gold and pearl earrings. Scientists believe that this room was off a living room and was used as a temporary bedroom while the house was being renovated.
Pompeii Archaeological Park E-Magazine
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“The room was chosen by two people as a shelter while they waited for the pumice, which had been gradually filling the open spaces in the rest of the house over many hours, to stop falling. With the doors closed, the room remained clear of the pumice filling the adjacent rooms, effectively preventing the two victims from being able to open a door and escape. The deaths of those trapped in the cramped small room were caused by the pyroclastic flow that buried them,” he explained in a statement.
“The invaluable anthropological data on the two victims, found in the archaeological context that determined their tragic end, allow us to learn a significant amount about the daily life of the ancient Pompeian people and some of their microhistory,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Needless to say, the last moments of these people's lives were not very pleasant.