Discover 10 Fascinating Facts About the Preservation of Corpses in Pompeii

1- The method was conceived by Giuseppe Fiorelli, who took over the excavations in 1860.

2- A person who has passed away, either from inhaling gases or from the weight of volcanic ash, collapsing roofs, or stones that were hurled, was buried under pumice stone and volcanic ash. (In some areas, the ash reached a height of 12 meters!)

3- The cooling and hardening of volcanic ash and pumice stone, along with the decay of flesh, created a cavity where human bones were preserved in precisely the same position.

4- In 1863, the first remains containing skeletons were found. Under Fiorelli’s guidance, liquid plaster was poured into these cavities, filling the space and enveloping the body and the ash remnants found within. These were the first four bodies discovered.

5- When the plaster dried, the walls of the cavity (volcanic ash and pumice) were removed, revealing the body, wrapped in plaster, just as it was in that exact position.

6- The bodies are 1,941 years old! (The eruption was in the year 79 CE).

7- Throughout the history of excavations, over 1,000 bodies have been uncovered.

8- In the past, the bodies were partially preserved in glass and iron coffins, many still at the site where they were found, but some were damaged by the bombings of World War II. Over time, they were moved to a more organized location.

9- A small body inspired the scientist and author Primo Levi to write the powerful poem “The Little Girl from Pompeii,” which addresses the psychological and physical trauma that lingers after any horrific disaster.

10- Particularly memorable and accessible for visitation in the ‘Forum’ area of Pompeii are the corpse of the pregnant woman and the dog with the leash still around its neck.