Archaeologists have uncovered the skeletons of two previously unknown victims of the volcanic eruption in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which occurred in 79 A.D., in the Regio IX district. A man and a woman met their fate in a room that researchers have designated as “Zone 33.” The woman, aged between 35 and 45, was found lying on a bed in a fetal position, while a young man, around 20 years old, was discovered beneath the rubble of a fallen wall.
This discovery at the ancient site of Pompeii has allowed researchers to reconstruct the final moments of panic experienced by those who perished during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The young man and the middle-aged woman were likely seeking refuge in a room that ultimately became their trap.
Next to the woman’s body, archaeologists found valuable items, including precious earrings and a collection of coins. They speculate that the woman may have been trying to save her treasures from the impending disaster.
Since the room was not filled with pumice, researchers suspect that the couple took shelter from the rain of lava that engulfed Pompeii after the eruption. However, as the adjacent room filled with pumice, the two individuals ultimately found themselves trapped, as reported by IFLScience.
The presence of several centimeters of ash on the floor suggests that the couple likely died as a result of a pyroclastic flow (a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic material). Scientists believe that this deadly flow likely caused the wall to collapse, leading to the young man’s death.
Experts think the woman survived a bit longer. She may have resigned herself to lying on the bed, waiting for death. It remains unclear how long she endured, but her final moments were undoubtedly filled with agony.
You Can’t Take Gold and Pearls with You to the Afterlife
Surrounding the woman’s skeleton, archaeologists discovered a set of iron keys, which may have belonged to a nearby chest. Before her demise, the woman attempted to protect her gold, silver, and bronze coins, as well as her gold and pearl earrings.
According to the study’s authors, the earrings were in the “crotalia” style (meaning “rattle”): this name comes from the sounds produced by the clinking of pearls. The woman’s collection also included an amulet-shaped pendant, which may have been intended for protection during childbirth.
Based on this discovery, researchers speculate that the woman intended to flee with her treasures but, unfortunately, did not make it in time.
Scientists also reconstructed the layout of the room. They poured plaster into the depressions left in the ash, resulting in casts of fragments of wooden furniture that once adorned the room. In doing so, they were able to identify ghostly traces of a bed, an overturned stool, and a wooden table with a marble top.