Over the years, various investigations have uncovered fragments of life in Pompeii just before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago. The remains and ashes of its inhabitants seemed to reveal who was behind these gestures of agony and even the kinship between them. But a new study shatters much of that knowledge. In reality, no one is who they appeared to be.
Genetic revelations. A recent DNA study of the remains of some of Pompeii’s victims challenges previous assumptions about who died in the ancient Roman city, devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The study was published in Current Biology.
The findings challenge earlier interpretations of the victims’ family relationships and shed light on Pompeii’s demographic composition and surprising genetic diversity. Like Rome, Pompeii was a distinctly cosmopolitan and multiethnic city.
The “new” relationships. The research team analyzed DNA from the remains of 14 individuals among the 86 plaster casts currently under restoration. Among the most notable findings was the case of two well-known figures previously interpreted as mother and child based on their posture: an adult with a child on their lap. However, genetic analysis revealed that the remains didn’t belong to a woman and her child, but rather to an unrelated adult male and child. In another notable case, two individuals thought to be sisters were found through DNA to be an adult male and female, with their exact relationship unknown.
According to the authors, these findings illustrate how previous assumptions based on limited evidence may reflect the biases and perspectives of earlier researchers rather than the true identities and relationships of the remains. As anthropologist David Caramelli, co-author of the study, explains, “They highlight the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations.”
Genetic diversity and Mediterranean connections. DNA extracted by the researchers shows that some of Pompeii’s inhabitants had genetic relationships with populations from the eastern Mediterranean, specifically the Levant and North Africa, including Jewish populations from that region. This suggests that Pompeii, as a significant first-century port, attracted people from various regions, which is reflected in the genetic makeup of its inhabitants.
In fact, a 2022 study revealed the presence of an individual with Sardinian ancestry and bacteria associated with spinal tuberculosis. This finding confirms that genetic diversity wasn’t exclusive to large cities like Rome: Pompeii was also a meeting point for several cultures. According to Gabriele Scorrano, a geneticist involved in previous studies, these results suggest significant crossbreeding due to recent migrations from the eastern Mediterranean.
Correcting long-held assumptions. The researchers also opened the door to re-evaluating the narratives built around the plaster casts of Pompeii. It’s a somewhat controversial topic, as the team suggests earlier restorers and archaeologists may have manipulated the positions of the casts to dramatize events and reinforce preconceived notions about how people died.
One thing seems clear: Today’s genetic testing allows scientists to correct these potentially distorted accounts, creating a more accurate picture of the victims’ original positions.
The bottom line. This research isn’t the last of its kind. As genetic analyses and excavations continue at Pompeii, researchers hope to gain an even richer, more accurate, and detailed understanding of the city.
Pompeii remains one of the most vivid examples of how catastrophe can preserve a portal to the past, providing scientists and researchers with tools to reinterpret and better understand the cultural, social, and genetic context of its inhabitants.
Image | Archeological Park of Pompeii
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