by Although Vesuvius first erupted in 79 AD, archaeologists continue to make fascinating discoveries in the Italian ruins of Pompeii. The most recent are a man and a woman.
Archaeologists from Pompeii uncover the tragic final moments of two victims of the Vesuvius eruption
The two skeletons were discovered in a cabin, presumably a bedroom, that had been sealed off by volcanic ash and lava, trapping the two inside and dying.
Euronews Culture
Archaeologists have found new victims of the eruption of Vesuvius in the ruins of Pompeii.
The Archaeological Park of Pompeii has found two skeletons, a man and a woman, in what was probably a makeshift bedroom used during the renovation of the house, the park said on Monday.
The woman was discovered on a bed with gold, silver and bronze coins and several pieces of jewelry, including a pair of gold and pearl earrings.
The couple appeared to use the bedroom to hide from falling pumice during the eruption in 79 AD. Because the room was sealed, the two were crushed by the volcano’s pyroclastic flow.
“The invaluable anthropological data on the two victims, found in the archaeological context of their tragic end, allow us to recover a considerable amount of information on the daily life of the ancient Pompeians and the microhistory of some of them,” park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said in a statement.
Skeletons found in excavation area
The skeletons were found in an area of Pompeii called Insula 10 of Regio IX, where numerous new discoveries have been made in recent months.
In June, the park announced that it had discovered a room near the site of the skeletons that it calls the “Blue Shrine.” It is believed to be a sacrarium, a shrine dedicated to ritual activities and the storage of sacred objects.
The room is decorated in a pale blue, which is rare in Pompeian frescoes and was generally used for lavishly decorated rooms. The excavation uncovered objects related to the furnishing and renovation of the house.
In April, excavators discovered intact Roman frescoes in the same area of the park.
The frescoes were found in a dining room of the destroyed city, which was buried under ash after a devastating volcanic eruption.
The paintings showed, among others, Helen of Troy.
The work addresses heroism through the role of heroes and gods in the Trojan War, as well as themes of fate and the idea that man can change his own destiny.
The excavations are part of a larger project to maintain the demarcation between excavated and non-excavated sites and to preserve the site of Pompeii.
Contributors: Anthony Robledo
