Imma Perfetto
Cosmos science journalist
The DNA of people killed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius at Pompeii has turned traditional ideas of the victims’ identities and relationships on their head.
Located just outside of modern-day Naples, Italy, the Roman town of Pompeii was buried under volcanic material in 79 CE. The ash, which compacted around the bodies of many of the dying, preserved their outlines as they decayed.
To date 104 plaster casts of these voids have been produced, revealing striking features of the individuals’ last moments.
But a new study of DNA extracted from the bones inside Pompeii’s famous plaster casts has largely debunked long-held assumptions based solely on the physical appearance and positioning of the casts.
Professor David Reich of Harvard University in the US, corresponding author of the study in Current Biology, explains: “One notable example is the discovery that an adult wearing a golden bracelet and holding a child, traditionally interpreted as a mother and child, were an unrelated adult male and child.
“Similarly, a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male. These findings challenge traditional gender and familial assumptions.”
The team analysed 14 casts to accurately determine the genetic relationships, sex, and ancestry of the individuals. Their results also show that Pompeiians had diverse genomic backgrounds and mostly descended from recent immigrants from the eastern Mediterranean.
“Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies,” says Dr Alissa Mittnik of Harvard University, also a corresponding author of the study.
“They 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.”
