Pompeii excavation reveals bodies of two ancient citizens

Archaeologists in Pompeii have discovered the plaster casts of two men who died during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The find occurred at the Civita Giuliana site, 700 meters northwest of Pompeii, in a suburban villa with panoramic views of the Gulf of Naples and Capri. The victims—likely a wealthy 40-year-old man and his 20-year-old slave—were killed by a pyroclastic flow around 9 AM on October 25, 79 AD, during the second volcanic surge. Their bodies left cavities in the ash, which were filled with plaster using a technique developed in 1863 by Giuseppe Fiorelli. The excavation, conducted jointly with the Torre Annunziata prosecutor's office to prevent looting, continued despite the pandemic lockdown. Massimo Osanna, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, noted that the victims sought refuge in a cryptoporticus but were overwhelmed by thermal shock. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini highlighted that over 20 hectares remain to be excavated, emphasizing Pompeii's ongoing importance for research and education.