Well-preserved skeleton sheds light on culture in ancient Pompeii
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[August 28, 2021]
ROME (Reuters) - Archaeologists have
uncovered a well-preserved skeleton at a burial site in Pompeii which
has shed new light on funeral rites and cultural activity in the doomed,
ancient Roman city, officials said on Tuesday.
The body of the man, believed to be in his 60s, was found in a tomb
which dated to the final decades of Pompeii, before it was destroyed by
the Vesuvius volcano in 79 AD.
A commemorative inscription named the man as Marcus Venerius Secundio
and made a reference to theatre performances at Pompeii in Greek - the
first time archaeologists have found direct evidence of plays performed
there in Greek as well as in Latin.
"That performances in Greek were organised is evidence of the lively and
open cultural climate which characterised ancient Pompeii," said Gabriel
Zuchtriegel, director of Pompeii's Archaeological Park.
The park said in a statement that it was one of the best preserved
skeletons ever found at the site and showed signs of partial
mummification, with hair and an ear still evident on the skull. Two
cremation urns were also found in the tomb enclosure.
Adults were normally cremated in the city at the time, so the burial of
Marcus Venerius is seen as highly unusual.
Archaeologists are investigating whether the man might have been
embalmed ahead of burial. Certain textiles are known to have been used
in embalming and archaeologists have found fragments of what might be
fabric at the site.
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Archaeologists have uncovered a well-preserved skeleton at a burial
site in Pompeii
Marcus Venerius's name appears in another city
archive, which identified him as a public slave and a custodian of
the Temple of Venus. He was later freed and his imposing tomb
suggests he had reached a certain social and economic status before
his death.
The burial site is not currently accessible to visitors and lies
beyond the city limits. Pompeii officials said they were looking
into how they could open the area to the public.
Pompeii, 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Naples, was home to about
13,000 people when the volcanic eruption buried it under ash, pumice
pebbles and dust, freezing it in time.
The site was not discovered until the 16th century and organised
excavations began around 1750. A recent burst of archaeological
activity, aimed at halting years of decay and neglect, has enabled
scholars to uncover areas that have previously remained buried under
the volcanic debris.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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