DNA Analysis Rewrites Histories of Pompeii Victims from 79 AD Eruption

Nov 8, 2024, 04:44 PM

A study led by David Caramelli from the University of Florence, David Reich from Harvard University, and Alissa Mittnik from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has utilized DNA evidence to rewrite the histories of individuals buried in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ancient Pompeii in 79 AD. The analysis, published in Current Biology, has revealed that the genetic relationships, sex, and ancestry of 14 individuals do not align with common assumptions. For instance, an adult wearing a golden bracelet with a child in their lap, often interpreted as a mother and child, was identified as an adult male biologically unrelated to the child. Similarly, a pair of individuals who were thought to have died in an embrace were not related, challenging the narrative of a romantic or familial bond. The research also indicates that Pompeii was a cosmopolitan hub with residents from various parts of the Mediterranean, highlighting a diverse population not previously recognized.