Unearthed Pompeii Skeletons Shed Light on Victims' Final Moments

The ruins of Pompeii continue to produce fascinating pieces of history that tell scientists more about the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79. The latest find reported by archaeologists can help us understand how people were thinking during the disaster in the moments before their inevitable demise. 

A new report published in the E-Journal of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii showcases archaeologists' most recent find in Pompeii's Region IX, Insula 10 site. They found a room containing the skeletons of two eruption victims, a man and a woman. The woman was found on the bed with gold, silver, and bronze coins as well as some jewelry like a pair of gold and pearl earrings. Scientists surmise that this room was located off a living room and used as a temporary bedroom while the house was being renovated. 

"The room was chosen as a refuge by the two people while waiting for the end of the fall of pumice that had been gradually filling the open spaces for hours in the rest of the house. The room, thanks to the doorways having been closed, remained free of the pumice that had filled the adjoining rooms, effectively blocking the two victims' ability to open a door and escape. Trapped in the cramped little room, their deaths were caused by the pyroclastic flow that buried them," a statement explained. 

"The invaluable anthropological data relating to the two victims found within the archaeological context that marked their tragic end allows us to recover a considerable amount of information about the daily life of the ancient Pompeiians and the micro-histories of some of them," Archaeological Park of Pompeii director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said. 

Needless to say these people's final moments of life weren't enjoyable.