Archaeologists Unearth the Remains of a Child Attempting to Escape the Devastation of Mt. Vesuvius 2000 Years Ago
Mt. Vesuvius, Italy, is home to one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in human history. In 79 AD, the volcano spewed lava so violently, burying the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii under a thick layer of ash. Pompeii was so well-preserved that scientists have been able to recreate the residents’ last moments.
Archaeologists are still discovering the remains to this day, and the latest find is of a small child who attempted to take shelter in the thermal baths of the ancient city.
Experts discovered the small child buried in the ruins of the ancient baths, which were complete with marble pillars and blocks.
Pompeii’s archaeological director, Massimo Osanna, told AFP that the thermal baths “were inspired by Emperor Nero’s thermal baths in Rome.”
He added, “The rooms here were to be bigger and lighter, with marble pools.”
“He was emotionally charged, eager to find shelter and food, desperately looking for safety and warmth.” (Image: Napoleone Press/REX)
Archaeologists are still discovering the remains to this day. Archaeologist Alberto Marcellino and colleagues analyzed the skeletal remains of the child, who was believed to be between eight and ten years old.
Dr. Marcellino has managed to create a vivid picture, saying: ‘It was an emotionally charged dig. He or she was looking for shelter and found death instead.
‘The excavation was also moving from an architectural point of view because it is unusual to find a building so large — with such small rooms — in this densely built-up city. It transmits a sense of grandiosity.’
Mount Vesuvius is still active to this day. The volcano, located in Campania, last erupted in 1944 and usually has an eruption cycle of every 20 years, meaning it has been building up for almost four times that amount.
In 79 AD, the volcano spewed lava so violently, and at such a quick speed, that Vesuvius completely consumed the local cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii (Image: Napoleone Press/REX).
The area is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world, with three million people living in the nearby city of Naples.
Previous research on the people of Pompeii had such limited information about the eruption that it led to one of the most gruesome forms of death imaginable.
Archaeologists at the Federico II University Hospital in Italy conducted research into 12 sets of remains which were recovered from the Herculaneum site.
The team found evidence on the skulls there was a strange, red and black mineral residue which came from the inside.
Pompeii Discovery: Archaeologists Find Remains of Small Child Who Attempted to Flee Major Eruption (Image: GETTY)
Further analysis revealed the residue contains iron and iron oxide – a chemical reaction which occurs when blood boils.
Having ruled out the possibility that the iron came from any form of nearby metals, the researchers discovered something literally mind-blowing.
When the volcano blasted lava towards the site at between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius, travelling at speeds between 100 and 300 kilometers per hour, the 300 people in the nearby camp would have died instantly.
The blood and brains of the victims would have been boiled in a matter of moments, leading to a build-up of steam in the cranium which had nowhere to go but out through the roof of the skull.