By Even though Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., archeologists continue to make fascinating discoveries in the Italian ruins of Pompeii to this day. The latest are a man and a woman.
Pompeii archaeologists uncover tragic final moments of two victims of Mount Vesuvius eruption
The two skeletons were discovered in a cubicle, likely a bedroom, which had been sealed off by volcanic ash and lava, trapping them and leading to their death.
Euronews Culture
Archeologists have found new victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the ruins of Pompeii.
The Archaeological Park of Pompeii found two skeletons, a man and a woman, in what was likely a temporary bedroom used during the renovation of the home, the park said on Monday.
The woman was discovered on a bed with gold, silver and bronze coins and multiple pieces of jewelry, including a pair of gold and pearl earrings.
The pair appeared to use the bedroom to hide from the falling pumice during the eruption, which occurred in 79 A.D., and the room’s seal caused the pair to be crushed from the volcano’s pyroclastic flow.
“The invaluable anthropological data relating to the two victims found within the archaeological context that marked their tragic end allows us to recover a considerable amount of information about the daily life of the ancient Pompeiians and the micro-histories of some of them,” park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said in a statement.
Skeletons found in discovery-rich area
The skeletons were found in an area of Pompeii called Insula 10 of Regio IX that has yielded multiple new discoveries in recent months.
In June, the park announced that it discovered what it calls the “Blue Shrine” room near where the skeletons were found. The room is believed to be a sacrarium, a shrine devoted to ritual activities and the storage of sacred objects.
The room is a pale blue, rarely occurs in Pompeian frescoes and was generally used for elaborately decorated rooms. The excavation found objects relating to the furnishing and renovation of the house.
Excavators discovered intact Roman frescoes in the same region of the park in April.
The frescoes were found in a dining room in the ruined city buried under ash after a catastrophic volcanic eruption.
The paintings depicted the Helen of Troy among other Greek figures.
The work showcased themes of heroism through the role heroes and gods played in the Trojan War, as well as themes of fate and the idea that humans can change their own destiny.
The excavations are a part of a broader project to maintain the perimeter between excavated and unexcavated sites and preserve the Pompeii site.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo
