Pompeii victims died in 'extreme agony': archaeologists find skeletons of man and woman that shed light on events 2000 years ago

Scientists have found the skeletal remains of a woman and a man who died when Vesuvius' volcanic plumes destroyed the city of Pompeii almost 2000 years ago. According to archaeologists, the findings allow us to see the last moments of people who tried to escape from the ancient Roman city.

Archaeologists found the skeletal remains in a room measuring 2.8 by 3.5 meters in a house they began excavating in 2023. Despite the relatively small area, the excavation was difficult because the skeletons and objects were very delicate, a task that required careful micro-scale excavation and removal, Live Science writes.

Pompeii was a luxurious resort city south of modern-day Naples. The city is located about 10 kilometers from Mount Vesuvius, which is still considered an active volcano today. Scientists estimate that approximately 10,000 to 20,000 people inhabited the city during the famous volcanic eruption in 79 AD, and that 2,000 probably died from the hot volcanic gas, lava, and ash, within 20 minutes of contact.

"Even after two millennia, we are faced with the suffering and anguish of the people who died, and we must address it with sensitivity and accuracy," says Gabriel Zuchtrigel, archaeologist and director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

The skeleton of a woman lay beside the bed with a pile of treasures, including gold, silver, and bronze coins and a pair of gold and pearl earrings. She also had a key, which may have been to a small chest across from the bed, suggesting a possible attempt to retrieve the valuables moments before she tried to escape. Based on the analysis of her pubic bones and teeth, she was approximately 35-45 years old at the time of her death.

A young man, who looked to be between 15 and 20 years old, was pushed against a wall and trapped in another corner of the room in a very tight space. He was near what looked like an exit.

In addition to the bed and the chest, the archaeologists found a three-legged stool and a wooden table with a marble top, cluttered with glass, bronze, and ceramic dishes and lamps. By pouring plaster into the cavities of the remains, the archaeologists were able to reconstruct the furniture. Imprints on the volcanic sediments marked the original position of the objects.

"Being able to recognize the victims and their choice to seek shelter or try to escape, to take certain items with them and leave others behind, reveals a common humanity. Sometimes we forget that for the ancients, this catastrophe must have been even more horrific and unimaginable than we can imagine today, given that they did not understand exactly what volcanoes were or what caused earthquakes," the archaeologists write in the study.

The excavation is part of a larger project aimed at uncovering the archaeological site. Several discoveries have been made in Pompeii in recent years, including the skeleton of a man fleeing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a still life depicting food, and an inscription describing the collection.

"This is not just an archaeological study or art history, it is a way to understand the human suffering witnessed in Pompeii," the archaeologist said.

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