Victims of the Eruption
In the 1890's, an astonishing collection of skeletons were unearthed by archaeological director Dr Giuseppe Maggi and his team while digging trenches for drainage. Around 300 skeletons were uncovered, mostly groups huddled together within the town boat chambers. The conditions in which these victims have been uniquely preserved has given anthropologists as well as other researchers a breakthrough on what this Roman civilization was really like.
The discovery was of great importance due to the extreme rarity
of preserved Roman skeletons, the Roman practice of cremation had created high limitations. This remarkable find contradicted traditional beliefs that due to the lack of casualties found in the town itself, most of Herculaneum's population must have escaped with success. Evidently these citizens must have believed that the safest course of escape was too head to the beach. There they had taken refuge within the vaults, awaiting a sea rescue (similar to those led by Pliny the Elder) that wold never come, instead there refuge became their resting place after the pyroclastic mud flows swept across Herculaneum.
The "Ring Lady":
On the 5th April 1983, the skeleton of a women was located on the beach outside one of the boating vaults. The victim was a young women who has been named the "Ring Lady" because of the emerald and ruby rings found on the woman's left hand. Two
gold bracelets and a two pairs of gold earrings were also found by the woman's side. The two pairs
of earrings seemed to have pearls in them. The amount of jewellery in this women's possession suggests that she was well off, possibly coming from a wealthy family.
Conclusion
The conditions in which these bodies were preserved by the volcano's heated mud flow is remarkable. Unlike the bodies in Pompeii which experienced instant disintegration, these bodies didn't instead they were encased and instantly preserved by Vesuvius's surge. Studies through observations, measurements and chemical analysis have allowed anthropologists like Sara C. Bisel the opportunity to identify the physical and medical characteristics of these people. To date, 139 of the Herculaneum skeletons have been excavated, restored and studied. Out of those 139 skeletons there were 51 males, 49 females and 39 children. Specific attention was given to the dental health, pelvic brim index, longevity, traces of disease, soil sampling and their the victims state of trauma. These studies have provided priary knowledge on what health and physical well-being the people of Herculaneum had during that period.
of preserved Roman skeletons, the Roman practice of cremation had created high limitations. This remarkable find contradicted traditional beliefs that due to the lack of casualties found in the town itself, most of Herculaneum's population must have escaped with success. Evidently these citizens must have believed that the safest course of escape was too head to the beach. There they had taken refuge within the vaults, awaiting a sea rescue (similar to those led by Pliny the Elder) that wold never come, instead there refuge became their resting place after the pyroclastic mud flows swept across Herculaneum.
The "Ring Lady":
On the 5th April 1983, the skeleton of a women was located on the beach outside one of the boating vaults. The victim was a young women who has been named the "Ring Lady" because of the emerald and ruby rings found on the woman's left hand. Two
gold bracelets and a two pairs of gold earrings were also found by the woman's side. The two pairs
of earrings seemed to have pearls in them. The amount of jewellery in this women's possession suggests that she was well off, possibly coming from a wealthy family.
Conclusion
The conditions in which these bodies were preserved by the volcano's heated mud flow is remarkable. Unlike the bodies in Pompeii which experienced instant disintegration, these bodies didn't instead they were encased and instantly preserved by Vesuvius's surge. Studies through observations, measurements and chemical analysis have allowed anthropologists like Sara C. Bisel the opportunity to identify the physical and medical characteristics of these people. To date, 139 of the Herculaneum skeletons have been excavated, restored and studied. Out of those 139 skeletons there were 51 males, 49 females and 39 children. Specific attention was given to the dental health, pelvic brim index, longevity, traces of disease, soil sampling and their the victims state of trauma. These studies have provided priary knowledge on what health and physical well-being the people of Herculaneum had during that period.