In southern Italy, archaeologists have found the skeleton of an ancient man who was killed in the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. “A discovery from which we expect a lot,” Francesco Sirano, director of the Arecolano Archaeological Park south of Naples, told Ansa news agency.
As Ansa reported on Friday, the discovery should shed light on the final moments of the sunken city of Herculaneum, which dates back to ancient times where Ercolano is today. When Vesuvius exploded, the famous city of Pompeii also went down.
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Sirano said in a video published by Ansa that the man was found with his head towards the sea. His age was probably between 40 and 45 years. Researchers believe that a scorching cloud of ash crushed him when he tried to escape. As he fell back, he must have seen a cloud of ash running towards him.
Experts have found the skeleton at the place where it was last excavated about 25 years ago. At that time, the remains of more than 300 people were found where the sandy beach dates back to antiquity. He is said to have sought protection in small camps there and waited for the fleet of the Roman officer Pliny the Elder to protect him.
Meanwhile, researchers are puzzled as to who the man could have been. There are many guesses. According to Ansa, Sirano said that he may have been an assistant in Pliny’s fleet or belonged to a group of men who had fled the sea to reach one of the lifeboats and drove away from it.
Archaeologists now want to take a large section of the lava rock, along with the skeleton, to the laboratory for further investigation. (dpa)
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