New DNA Evidence Disproves Long-Standing Identities of Pompeii Victims

A recent study published in the journal Current Biology reveals new insights into the identities of victims buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Researchers extracted DNA from 14 restoration casts, leading to significant revelations about the relationships of the individuals believed to be buried together in Pompeii. This included finds in the ‘house of the golden bracelet,’ where a supposed mother was actually a man unrelated to a child, and a pair previously thought to be sisters turned out to have one male among them. The research team, which included scientists from Harvard University and the University of Florence, aimed to determine the sex, ancestry, and genetic relationships of the Pompeii victims. Their findings challenge existing narratives regarding the victims’ identities and relationships, highlighting a diverse background among Pompeii residents. They found that many citizens were descendants of eastern Mediterranean immigrants, underscoring cultural exchanges in the Roman Empire. This study builds on previous research from 2022 when scientists sequenced the genome of a Pompeii victim for the first time, confirming the possibility of retrieving ancient DNA from Italian remains. The new findings are a breakthrough in understanding the complexities of life in ancient Pompeii, a city frozen in time after a disastrous volcanic eruption left its citizens in their final moments. The research emphasizes the importance of genetic material in rewriting historical narratives, enhancing our understanding of how people lived and died in this ancient Roman city.