The eruption of Pompeii in AD 79. it was a catastrophic event that changed the course of history and left an indelible mark on human civilization.

The violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius turned the once bustling Roman city into a graveyard. Most of its inhabitants met a grisly end, buried alive under a lethal rain of lapilli – small stones and ash.

The few who managed to escape the initial onslaught were eventually overcome by deadly pyroclastic flows.

This high-velocity avalanche of superheated gas and volcanic matter sealed them in a solid layer of ash, preserving their bodies—and, paradoxically enough, their life stories—for posterity.

Hypotheses about the victims of Pompeii

Historically, the lives of these Pompeians were told through plaster casts made from the gaps left by many decaying bodies. This has given rise to countless assumptions about the victims, their relationships and their lives.

However, an international team led by scientists from Harvard Medical School, the University of Florence and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology set out on a journey to dispel some of these assumptions and bring the true stories to light. of these inhabitants of the ancient city.

Scientists carefully extracted DNA samples of the fragmented skeletal remains found in 14 of 86 famous models. This new approach allowed them to reevaluate established beliefs and narratives.

Their findings challenged many previously held assumptions about the victims of Pompeii, which were based solely on the physical appearance and placement of the casts. This helped illuminate certain complexities of ancient civilization.

Professor David Caramelli, expert in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florence, emphasized the monumental impact of this research.

“This research shows how genetic analysis can add significantly to the stories built from archaeological data,” Professor Caramelli said.

He noted that the findings challenge enduring notions such as associating jewelry with femininity or interpreting physical proximity as evidence of family relationships.

“Furthermore, genetic evidence adds a layer of complexity to simple kinship narratives. For example, in House of the Golden Braceletthe only site where we have genetic information from multiple individuals, the four people traditionally considered to be the two parents and their children are actually not genetically related to each other.”

Unforeseen relationships of Pompeii victims

Remarkably, the research also sheds light on unexpected relationship dynamics that were far removed from mainstream narratives.

The team’s findings not only challenged traditional gender and family assumptions, but also shed light on unexpected relationships.

“The scientific data we provide does not always line up with common assumptions,” said co-lead author David Reichprofessor of genetics at the Blavatnik Institute at HMS and professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University.

“For example, a notable example is the discovery that an adult wearing a gold bracelet and holding a child, traditionally interpreted as mother and child, was an unrelated adult man and child.”

“Similarly, a pair of individuals believed to be sisters, or mother and daughter, has been found to include at least one genetic male. These findings challenge traditional gender and family assumptions,” Reich emphasized.

The true nature of the Roman Empire

Scientists have discovered that the inhabitants of Pompeii were descendants of recent immigrants who came mainly from the eastern Mediterranean.

“Our findings have significant implications for interpreting the archaeological record and understanding ancient societies,” explained Alissa Mittnik of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

“They emphasize the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions.”

“This study also highlights the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Pompeii’s population, reflecting wider patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in Roman Empire“, she added.

Beyond the story of the eruption of Pompeii

This new research is just the beginning of a new perspective, in which the site of Pompeii itself plays a central role in advancing archaeological studies and methodologies.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of Pompeii Park, explained that the park oversees a number of research projects through its laboratory, including isotopic analysis, diagnostics, geology, volcanology and reverse engineering.

“Pompeii Park has included ancient DNA analysis in its study protocols for years, not only for human victims, but also for animal victims.”

“All of these elements together contribute to a comprehensive and up-to-date interpretation of the archaeological findings,” said Zuchtriegel, noting that these efforts position Pompeii as an incubator for new methods and scientific innovation.

“From that point of view, this study marks a real shift in perspective, where the site itself plays a central role in advancing archeology and research,” he said.

Understanding past civilizations

By successfully integrating new genetic data with traditional archaeological methods, we can now look beyond the surface and challenge established narratives.

“Rather than establishing new narratives that might also distort these people’s experiences, the genetic results encourage reflection on the dangers of inventing stories about gender and family relationships in past societies based on present-day expectations,” Reich said.

This revolutionary approach thus changes our understanding of the past civilizationsgiving us a fresh and more authentic understanding of our shared human history.

The research was published in the journal Current Biology.

Image credit: © courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Park

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