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Researchers at the archaeological site of Pompeii in Italy announced on Saturday (26) the discovery of an intact thermopoly, a kind of fast food from ancient times.
The balcony preserved by volcanic ash had been partially unearthed in 2019, but the works have been expanded to try to preserve the entire archaeological site, which is located in a busy neighborhood, in the best possible way.
“In addition to being a testimony to the daily life of Pompeii, the possibilities of analyzing this thermopoly are exceptional, since for the first time a complete set has been unearthed”, celebrated Massimo Osanna, general director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, in a statement .
Scientists found food scraps that could provide valuable information on Pompeii’s culinary customs at the time Vesuvius erupted in AD 79
The old fast food was found practically intact – Photo: Pompeii Archaeological Park via AP
A fragment of duck bone, pig, goat, fish and snail remains were also recovered in clay jars. Various ingredients were cooked together, like a paella, according to the researchers. At the bottom of a container, crushed beans were found, used to modify the taste of the wine.
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In addition, scientists reported the discovery of human bones: a man in his 50s, near a child’s crib.
The balcony preserved by volcanic ash was found in 2019 – Photo: Pompeii Archaeological Park via AP
“The thermopoly appears to have been hastily closed and abandoned by its owners, although it is possible that someone, perhaps older, stayed and died during the first stage of the eruption,” Osanna explained in an interview with local news agency Ansa.
The other skeleton may be that of a thief or some hungry fugitive, “surprised by the fumes of the flames, holding the lid of the container that he had just opened with one hand,” he added.
Thermopolies (the compound word comes from the Greek “thermopolion” which means hot food to sell) were very common in the Roman world. In Pompeii alone there were about 80.
The discovery was made in Pompeii, in southern Italy – Photo: Pompeii Archaeological Park via AP
The city, completely covered by the volcano eruption in AD 79, is the second most visited place in Italy after the Colosseum, with almost four million visits in 2019.
So far, only a third of the site, which currently covers some 44 hectares, near Naples, has been excavated by archaeologists.
