Archaeologists have discovered new victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption at the ruins of Pompeii.
Pompeii Archaeological Park said on Monday it had found two skeletons, a man and a woman, in what was likely a temporary bedroom while the house was being renovated.
The woman was found on her bed with gold, silver and bronze coins and several pieces of jewelry, including gold and pearl earrings.
The couple had apparently been using the bedroom as a shelter from falling pumice during the 79 AD eruption, but because the room was sealed off they were swept away by the volcano’s pyroclastic flow.
“The valuable anthropological data on the two victims, discovered in an archaeological context of their tragic end, provide us with a considerable amount of information about the daily life of the people of ancient Pompeii and the microhistory of some of their populations,” park director Gabriel Zuftriegel said in a statement.
Skeleton discovered in area rich in finds
The remains were found in an area known as Insula 10 in Pompeii’s 9th district, where several new discoveries have been made in recent months.
In June, the park announced it had discovered a room called the “Blue Temple” near where the remains were found, which is believed to have been a sanctuary, a shrine used for ritual activities and storing sacred objects.
The room is painted a pale blue, a color rarely seen in Pompeii frescoes, and would normally have been used as an ornately decorated room. Excavations have uncovered items related to the home’s furnishings and renovations.
In April, excavators discovered an intact Roman fresco in the same area of the park.
The fresco was discovered in a dining hall in an abandoned city buried under ash after a devastating volcanic eruption.
The paintings depicted Greek figures, including Helen of Troy.
The work showcased themes of heroism through the roles played by heroes and gods in the Trojan War, as well as the theme of fate and the idea that humans can change their own destiny.
The excavation is part of a wider project to preserve the site of Pompeii, maintaining the boundaries between excavated and unexcavated sites.
Contributor: Anthony Robledo
