Archaeological Progress
The sheer size of the Pompeian ruins is astonishing and for this reason in modern day archealogy is considered one of the greatest discoveries that initial a view in the roman life. The city's ancient walls surround 163 acres of land, 1,500 buildings and miles of roads. Only a third of the city remains buried. The areas that have been excavated reveal amazing details, all perfectly preserved by the fine volcanic powder that showered down from Vesuvius. Archaeologists have found mosaics, frescoes and statues in perfect condition, glass jars still holding fruit, brick ovens loaded with loaves of bread and graffiti scribbled across the walls of Pompeian homes. Through time, archaeologists have investigated into the social religious and political lives of Pompeii's residents. For example, scientists know now that most of the city's inhabitants were not wealthy and the majority of the population lived humble lives in modest homes.
Located in Pompeii's main street, Via dell'Abbondanza, the home of Iulius Polybius is one of the most studied in the ancient Roman town. Due to its wealth in volcanic deposit scientific investigation has led to results on the death of those in those house and also the pre-eruption warning signs that the people of Pompeii witnessed. It has been discovered that at around 1:00 p.m. on Aug. 24, 79 A.D. pine tree-shaped column of smoke burst from Vesuvius. Reaching over nine miles into the sky where the column began spewing a thick pumice rain. Many attempted to escape and filled the streets of Pompeii. The home of Ilulius housed 12 residents, where given the circumstances of having a pregnant woman in there presence remained inside. A wise decision as evidence shows that most citizens deceased in the first hours of the eruption where many skeletons show fractured skulls where debris or roofs may have fallen. By examining Ilulius house in particular shows that it took approximately 6 hours for the roof to fully collapse. Analysis of DNA shows that 6 of these were related. Between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m., a final phase, punctuated by more pumice rain, buried Pompeii. This is important as it shows the importance of scientific information into how long the eruption lasted and at what time it occurred. This is also important as it shows the roman emphasise of family, where this family like many in Pompeii remained united in distress where they died together.
In 1748, Pompeii was rediscovered through its art, architecture and its citizens. Although only fragmentary skeletal remains were found, hollow spaces within the hardened volcanic debris revealed the forms of many deceased Romans. Suffocated by volcanic gasses and covered in ash and debris, their bodies eventually decayed inside the hardening matter. This air space essentially formed a mold, since the ash that had surrounded the person retained an imprint of the body. Excavators realized this and filled the air pockets with plaster. The resulting "plaster mummies" poignantly capture the human tragedy of Pompeii.
1,150 bodies have been discovered. The plaster casts of the men, women, children, and animals of Pompeii were primarily made in the mid 1800s.
Located in Pompeii's main street, Via dell'Abbondanza, the home of Iulius Polybius is one of the most studied in the ancient Roman town. Due to its wealth in volcanic deposit scientific investigation has led to results on the death of those in those house and also the pre-eruption warning signs that the people of Pompeii witnessed. It has been discovered that at around 1:00 p.m. on Aug. 24, 79 A.D. pine tree-shaped column of smoke burst from Vesuvius. Reaching over nine miles into the sky where the column began spewing a thick pumice rain. Many attempted to escape and filled the streets of Pompeii. The home of Ilulius housed 12 residents, where given the circumstances of having a pregnant woman in there presence remained inside. A wise decision as evidence shows that most citizens deceased in the first hours of the eruption where many skeletons show fractured skulls where debris or roofs may have fallen. By examining Ilulius house in particular shows that it took approximately 6 hours for the roof to fully collapse. Analysis of DNA shows that 6 of these were related. Between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m., a final phase, punctuated by more pumice rain, buried Pompeii. This is important as it shows the importance of scientific information into how long the eruption lasted and at what time it occurred. This is also important as it shows the roman emphasise of family, where this family like many in Pompeii remained united in distress where they died together.
In 1748, Pompeii was rediscovered through its art, architecture and its citizens. Although only fragmentary skeletal remains were found, hollow spaces within the hardened volcanic debris revealed the forms of many deceased Romans. Suffocated by volcanic gasses and covered in ash and debris, their bodies eventually decayed inside the hardening matter. This air space essentially formed a mold, since the ash that had surrounded the person retained an imprint of the body. Excavators realized this and filled the air pockets with plaster. The resulting "plaster mummies" poignantly capture the human tragedy of Pompeii.
1,150 bodies have been discovered. The plaster casts of the men, women, children, and animals of Pompeii were primarily made in the mid 1800s.