The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 is one of history's most famous eruptions, as over a thousand people got buried under an extremely hot blanket of volcanic ash. However, new findings reveal that people may have died even before this devastating event.
Pompeii Skeletons
According to MailOnline, new skeleton findings show that the desolate city experienced strong seismic events around the eruption landmark. CBS News also adds that two new skeletons were found under a collapsed wall at an archaeological site in Pompeii. They think that these remains are those of male victims who were killed by the strong earthquakes that accompanied the devastating eruption.
MailOnline adds that the skeletons are thought to belong to men who were at least 55 years old. They were found lying by their sides with curled legs. One also had a ring on his left hand.
Other traces were also found beside one victim. These included some coins and beads of a necklace.
Jug and bowl collections, as well as an amphora, were also found inside the room where they were found, while the next room had a fresco home shrine and a narrow toilet bathroom.
Both men are assumed to have died due to multiple traumas due to the collapse of some building parts. The New York Post also adds that one man was found to have his arm raised as a futile defense against the bricks that were falling.
According to a statement, these two skeletons were specifically found in the Casti Amanti, or the House of Chaste Lovers. This is where the skeletons of mules who worked for grain in millstone and colorful frescoes were previously uncovered. During the eruption in A.D. 79, this area could have been going through reconstruction work following an earthquake that took place a couple of days before.
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Earthquakes and the Devastating Eruption That Led to Pompeii's End
Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel of the Pompeii Archaeological Park explains that they have realized in recent years that powerful and violent seismic events took place during the time Mount Vesuvius erupted in Pompeii. Novel archaeological methodologies and techniques now enable them to know more about the devastating eruption that left Pompeii in ruins and killed a significant number of inhabitants.
CBS News notes that, in the last 250 years, over 1,300 victims have been spotted at the archaeological site situated south of Naples. In fact, in November 2020, two bodies were unearthed by archaeologists. These bodies are thought to be the remains of a young person who was enslaved and the person who possibly owned him.
Roughly 15% to 20% of the entire population of Pompeii is thought to have died due to the vicious eruption. This is mostly due to the thermal shock caused by the huge cloud of ash and gases blanketing the city.
Earthquakes around the area were also devastating. Building collapses and accompanying earthquakes were proven to be lethal and grave threats.
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