People returned to live in Pompeii's ruins, archaeologists say
17 days ago
- #Roman History
- #Pompeii
- #Archaeology
- New evidence suggests people returned to live among the ruins of Pompeii after the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
- Archaeologists believe survivors who couldn't afford to relocate returned, possibly joined by others seeking settlement.
- Pompeii, once home to 20,000 people, was buried and preserved by the eruption until its rediscovery in the 16th century.
- Recent excavations confirm the theory of post-eruption reoccupation, revealing a precarious settlement resembling a 'favela' among ruins.
- The informal settlement lasted until the 5th century, with inhabitants living without typical Roman city infrastructure.
- People lived in upper floors of homes, using lower floors as cellars, and scavenged for valuable objects in the ruins.
- The site's director noted that traces of reoccupation were often undocumented or removed in the rush to uncover well-preserved artifacts.
- Today, Pompeii is a world-famous tourist attraction offering insights into Roman life.