Shock DNA results force rethink of ancient Pompeii
Evidence suggests the site's famous plaster casts had been 'considerably manipulated' and incorrect assumptions were made about who the victims were.
DNA analysis of bodies preserved under the ash at Pompeii has debunked modern-day assumptions about who the victims were. The Roman city was destroyed after the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79AD and was rediscovered in the 1700s.
The forms of the victims were preserved as cavities in the ash after their bodies decayed, which archeologists used to create plaster casts. Eighty-six of the casts are undergoing restoration and this provided researchers with the opportunity to examine 14 of them.
By analysing traces of genetic material from fragments of skeletal remains attached to the plaster, researchers from Harvard University and the Universita di Firenze were able to verify the relationships, sex, and ancestry of victims.
Pompeii body casts 'considerably manipulated'
Casting began in 1870, and conclusions about the victims were drawn from the positions they died in and their physical appearance. They found metal rods inserted in the casts, and evidence that bones had been removed. In one instance, what was thought to be the belly of a pregnant woman was actually more likely a pile of bunched-up garments.
“The casts had been considerably manipulated and likely creatively restored in the past, with stylistic variations between casts in part reflecting aesthetic preferences of the periods in which they were made,” the research, published in the journal Cell Press concluded.
“Popular interpretations of the identity of the victims in Pompeii, therefore, are influenced not only by the archaeologists first describing them but also by the restorers who chose to enhance or alter some features of the bodies’ shapes.”
Study co-author, Dr David Caramelli from the Universita di Firenze, warned “This study illustrates how unreliable narratives based on limited evidence can be, often reflecting the world view of the researchers at the time.”
Who were the victims of Pompeii?
Caramelli's research partner, Harvard geneticist Dr David Reich, revealed how the DNA results had reshaped our understanding of the victims.
“For instance, 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,” he said.
“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.”
DNA from the site indicates the ancient city was multicultural, but most were immigrants from the eastern Mediterranean. As a port city, it's believed Pompeii had a diverse and mobile population.
“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,” Caramelli said.
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