Victims of Ancient Vesuvius Eruption Were Baked, Not Vaporized
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, hundreds of panicked people from the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum sought refuge in beachside boat chambers known as fornici. Archaeological evidence published this year suggests these unfortunate souls died inside these stone chambers, but instead of being instantly vaporized (as per a previous theory), they lived long enough to suffocate from the volcano’s toxic fumes. Their bodies baked inside the chambers, as temperatures reached 752 degrees F (400 degrees C).
