Newly Discovered Pompeii Victims Had ‘Horrifying’ Bodies

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the inhabitants of Pompeii died almost immediately as they were engulfed in superheated gas and ash, their last moments preserved over time by the thickness of the ash. But not all deaths were quick, suggest the newly discovered human remains.

The bones of a man and a woman were found by archaeologists in Region IX, in the district of Insula 10 in Pompeii, during excavation work in 2023. The two were in the room, a woman was also found in bed, holding gold, silver and copper coins, as well as jewelry including gold earrings and pearls. A man, estimated to be between 15 and 20 years old, was found slumped in a corner. His bones showed no signs of fracture, except for the fracture of his right humerus, which may have occurred after death.

Unlike many of the Pompeii victims, the bodies showed no signs that the cause of death was asphyxiation.

Two bones described in new research inIn Journal degli Scavi di Pompei. Researchers from several Italian universities said the two victims were apparently seeking shelter in the room and may have been there for hours. A closed window would have prevented the pumice from filling the room, as it had filled other areas of the house, leaving the two trapped to death by a pyroclastic flow—an explosion of deadly gas and a fast-moving volcano.

This discovery is a reminder that those who were present during the eruption experienced something “horrific and unimaginable than we can imagine today, since they did not know exactly what volcanoes were,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

The temporary burial chamber contained a number of other items, including a marble table, a bronze candelabra, and bronze, glass, and pottery furniture.

“The opportunity to analyze the important anthropological data related to the two victims found in the archaeological site that marked their tragic end, allows us to obtain important data on the daily life of the ancient Pompeians and the small stories of some of them. see, with accurate documents and at the right time,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, in a statement.

Although the disaster took place about 2,000 years ago, archaeologists are still discovering new things in Pompeii, including unearthing the bodies of the victims. Those remains paint a terrifying picture of what happened that day, as rocks and ash rained down from the sky. If there is any consolation, it is that the suffering probably did not last long, as some scientists estimate that most of the victims were suffocated to death by poisonous gases within 15 minutes after the explosion. Some studies suggest that the victims were baked or had their skulls exploded. Falling ash and debris buried the city, leaving it in a remarkably well-preserved state.

Not everyone who lived in Pompeii at the time of the explosion actually died. Some evidence shows that there are survivors who are able to start a new life elsewhere and thrive.