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ROME (Reuters) – Archaeologists have discovered the exceptionally well-preserved remains of two men scalded by the volcanic eruption that destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in AD 79, the Italian Ministry of Culture said on Saturday.
One was probably a man of high status, in his 30s and 40s, who still had traces of a woolen cape under his neck.
The second, probably between the ages of 18 and 23, was wearing a tunic and had several crushed vertebrae, indicating that he had been a slave doing heavy labor.
The remains were found at Civita Giuliana, 700 meters northwest of the center of ancient Pompeii, in an underground chamber in the area of a large villa that is being excavated.
The men’s teeth and bones were preserved, and the voids left by their soft tissues were filled in with plaster that was allowed to harden and then excavated to show the outline of their bodies.
“These two victims were perhaps seeking shelter when they were swept away by the pyroclastic current around 9 in the morning,” said Massimo Osanna, director of the archaeological site. “It is a death from heat shock, as evidenced by his clenched hands and feet.”
In a statement, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the find underscored Pompeii’s status as “an incredible place for research and study.”
Pompeii, 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Naples, was home to some 13,000 people when the eruption buried it under ash, pumice and dust, freezing it in time.
The remains were not discovered until the 16th century and organized excavations began around 1750. However, more recently, attention has focused on halting the deterioration or collapse of the exposed ruins.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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