Archaeologists find skeleton, evidence ofGreek in Pompeii17 August 2021

In this undated photo released by the Pompeiiarcheological park, a view of the tomb located in thenecropolis of Porta Sarno, in an area not yet open to thepublic in the east of Pompeii's urban center.Archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii havediscovered a remarkably well-preserved skeleton duringexcavations that also shed light on the cultural life of thecity before it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD79. The discovery is unusual since most adults werecremated at the time. Credit: Alfio Giannotti/PompeiiArcheological Park via AP

Archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii havediscovered a remarkably well-preserved skeletonduring excavations of a tomb that also shed lighton the cultural life of the city before it wasdestroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.

A skull bearing tufts of white hair and part of anear, as well as bones and fabric fragments, werefound in the tomb in the necropolis of Porta Sarno,an area not yet open to the public that is located inthe east of Pompeii's urban center. The discoveryis unusual since most adults were cremated at thetime.

An inscription of the tomb suggested that itsowner, a freed slave named Marcus Venerius

Secundio, helped organize performances in Greekin Pompeii. Experts said it was the first confirmationthat Greek, the language of culture in theMediterranean, was used alongside Latin.

"That performances in Greek were organized isevidence of the lively and open cultural climatewhich characterized ancient Pompeii," the directorof the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, GabrielZuchtriegel, said in a statement announcing thediscovery.

In an interview with The Associated Press,Zuchtriegel said Marcus Venerius clearly had beenable to make a living for himself after he was freedas a slave, given the "monumental" size of hisburial tomb. "He didn't become super rich, butcertainly he reached a considerable level ofwealth," Zuchtriegel said.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyedPompeii. Excavations over the years have yieldedremarkable discoveries of tombs, chariots andbrilliantly frescoed homes.

In this undated photo released by the Pompeiiarcheological park, a view of the tomb of MarcusVenerius Secundio located in the necropolis of PortaSarno, in an area not yet open to the public in the east of

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Pompeii's urban center. Archaeologists in the ancient cityof Pompeii have discovered a remarkably well-preservedskeleton during excavations that also shed light on thecultural life of the city before it was destroyed by avolcanic eruption in AD 79. The discovery is unusualsince most adults were cremated at the time. Credit: AlfioGiannotti/Pompeii Archeological Park via AP

In this undated photo released by the Pompeiiarcheological park, some of the findings in the necropolisof Porta Sarno, in an area not yet open to the public inthe east of Pompeii's urban center. Archaeologists in theancient city of Pompeii have discovered a remarkablywell-preserved skeleton during excavations that alsoshed light on the cultural life of the city before it wasdestroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79. The discoveryis unusual since most adults were cremated at the time.Credit: Alfio Giannotti/Pompeii Archeological Park via AP

In this undated photo released by the Pompeiiarcheological park, a urn found in the necropolis of PortaSarno, in an area not yet open to the public in the east ofPompeii's urban center. Archaeologists in the ancient cityof Pompeii have discovered a remarkably well-preservedskeleton during excavations that also shed light on thecultural life of the city before it was destroyed by avolcanic eruption in AD 79. The discovery is unusualsince most adults were cremated at the time. Credit: AlfioGiannotti/Pompeii Archeological Park via AP

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APA citation: Archaeologists find skeleton, evidence of Greek in Pompeii (2021, August 17) retrieved 2May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2021-08-archaeologists-skeleton-evidence-greek-pompeii.html

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