Pompeii DNA study reshapes ancient kinship and origins
Scientists conducted a DNA analysis of the remains of Pompeii's inhabitants, who perished during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. These results have provided groundbreaking information about their origins and family relationships.
8:02 AM EST, November 8, 2024
The research, published in the journal "Current Biology," was carried out by a team led by Prof. David Caramelli from the University of Florence. Scientists extracted DNA from highly fragmented skeletal remains in 14 of the 86 famous plaster casts of the eruption's victims, which are undergoing restoration.
Genetic analysis accurately determined the victims' sex, origin, and genetic relationships. These findings challenge previous assumptions based solely on physical appearance and the positioning of the casts. For example, an adult with a gold bracelet holding a child was previously considered a mother with her offspring. However, the research revealed that it was a man, and no family ties were between him and the child.
They [the studies-ed.] highlight the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions. This study also underscores the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Pompeii's population, reflecting broader patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire. – emphasized Prof. Caramelli.
Additionally, the DNA analysis revealed that the residents of Pompeii had roots extending to the eastern regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Alissa Mittnik from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology notes that these discoveries reflect broad patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire. "Our discoveries are significant for interpreting archaeological data and understanding ancient societies. They highlight the diversity and cosmopolitan nature of the population of Pompeii," the researcher stated.
This could have influenced interpretation
Scientists also suggest that previous reconstructions of scenes by experts might have influenced the interpretation of relationships between victims due to possible changes in the positioning of the casts.
The combined use of genetic data and other bioarchaeological methods provides us with the chance to better comprehend the lives and habits of the victims of the Vesuvius eruption – notes Prof. Caramelli.
The eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 79 AD. It was one of the most powerful in history, and it killed the inhabitants of Pompeii. Many perished under collapsed buildings, while others died in pyroclastic flows. The eruption also destroyed two other Roman cities: Herculaneum and Stabiae.
Vesuvius remains an active volcano. The last eruption occurred in 1944, and since the destruction of Pompeii, it has erupted 77 times. Geologists indicate that an eruption could occur in the future.
