Pompeii bodies how many

This is not the only volcano that has erupted, but it is the only one to have opened a window to the past. They unearthed artefacts, buildings, as well as human remains. Miraculously, the two cities were nearly perfectly preserved, lingering on in the same way Mount Vesuvius had left them. This means that the vast majority of the city of 20, fled at the first signs of the volcanic activity, making for the sea. During the volcanoes eruption, people were hit by rocks and fallen debris, chocking on gas and fumes, sometimes dying instantly from the heat.

With the sudden ferocity of the eruption which destroyed buildings and monuments, people died almost instantly, as seen by the bodily forms left behind. When the skin and tissues of these bodies eventually decayed, they left voids in the layer of ash around them in the exact shape of their final moments.

They let the plaster harden, then chipped away the outer layers of ash, leaving behind a cast of the victims at their time of death. These plaster outlines preserved the voids left by the bodies giving a glimpse into the tragic destructions that took so many people at once. Their preserved expression of horror and pain remind us of their humanity, with their vulnerable bodies, sometimes distorted, giving an eery feel to the ancient city. Although we owe many thanks to Fiorelli for his careful excavation efforts that pathed the way for careful and considerate preservation of the Lost City, the process of his plaster casts was eventually terminated.

Though excavation projects are ongoing, new casts are not being made because the paster damages the fragile remains of the corpses. In recent years there has been a big push to conserve the city and its pained inhabitants as they are now exposed to the elements and are at risk of decomposing or being damaged further.

With these pieces and finds being invaluable to the research of ancient Rome, archaeologists want to ensure that they can keep digging, exploring and analysing the remains for years to come.

The Garden of the Fugitives was so-called on account of the presence of thirteen of these bodies all still in their original locations. Unfortunately, many of the casts on display were destroyed or badly damaged by bombings in , although the hard work of Maiuri and his collaborators allowed a partial restoration.

However, the casts that survived the war are not hosted in the new Antiquarium, opened in Within the framework of the Great Pompeii Project, an inspection has been carried out and some casts that were thought to have been lost have actually been found again. The villa is on private property, and government-commissioned excavations only began there in , when archaeologists stepped in to help prevent looters from tunneling into the site and stealing artifacts.

Research teams also found a whole street of large houses lined with balconies. The ruins of Pompeii, a city of about 13, people at the time of its destruction, have fascinated people around the world for centuries. Work has continued ever since. Livia Gershon is a daily correspondent for Smithsonian.