New Digging at Pompeii Reveals How the Middle Class Lived in 79 AD

The chest in the house

Part of the archaeological team works on the contents of a chest. Photo: Courtesy of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii

A wooden chest was left open when the eruption occurred—perhaps the residents took out some belongings before fleeing. Planks from the home’s ceiling fell in on the chest.

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A new chemical and microscopic analysis of Pompeii residues documents a sacrificial rite that had only been previously described by ancient Roman writers and artists.

Human History Matthew Phelan Mar 30

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Human History Margherita Bassi May 8