DNA rewrites history of Pompeii victims buried in volcanic eruption centuries ago
The findings contradicted long-held assumptions, which were primarily based on the physical appearance and arrangement of the casts.
Researchers have studied the DNA preserved in the skeletal remains of Pompeii volcanic eruption victims.
In 79 CE, the violent eruption of the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic system engulfed the Roman town of Pompeii. This massive eruption trapped its inhabitants beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash, and led to the preservation of many bodies.
The body casts, created by pouring plaster into the voids left by decaying bodies, have long been a centerpiece of Pompeii‘s narrative.
A team of researchers, led by David Reich and Alissa Mittnik from Harvard University, delved into the ancient DNA of these individuals. By analyzing their genetic makeup, they uncovered startling revelations.
For example, a pair thought to be a mother and child — based on their positioning — was actually an unrelated adult male and child.
“This study illustrates how unreliable narratives based on limited evidence can be, often reflecting the worldview of the researchers at the time,” said David Caramelli from the Universita di Firenze in Italy, and part of the study team.
Scientific data challenges assumptions
The researchers state that this revelation could challenge the historical narrative that has been constructed since Pompeii’s rediscovery in the 1700s.
For this study, the researchers analyzed ancient DNA from the body casts.
Genetic analysis reveals that the sex and familial connections of these individuals differ significantly from the interpretations previously made based on modern-day assumptions.
“The scientific data we provide do not always align with common assumptions,” said Reich.
“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. 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,” Reich added.
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