Survivors returned to live in Pompeii’s ruins for centuries

Archaeologists have uncovered new evidence confirming that survivors returned to live among the ruins of Pompeii after Mount Vesuvius buried the ancient Roman city in 79 AD, transforming it into a makeshift camp that persisted for centuries.

The findings, announced Wednesday by the Pompeii Archaeological Park, reveal that some survivors who couldn't afford to relocate elsewhere came back to the devastated site. They were joined by newcomers seeking shelter and hoping to recover valuable items from the rubble.euronews+2

Life Among the Ruins

The post-eruption settlement was far from the prosperous Roman city that once housed more than 20,000 residents. "Thanks to the new excavations, the picture is now clearer: post-79 Pompeii re-emerges, more than a city, a precarious and gray agglomeration, a kind of camp, a favela among the still recognizable ruins of the Pompeii that once was," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological site.cbsnews+1

Recent excavations from the Insula Meridionalis (Southern Block) show that residents adapted the ruins for survival. They inhabited the upper floors of buildings that remained above the ash, while repurposing former ground levels into cellars equipped with ovens and mills. This informal settlement lacked the infrastructure and services typical of a Roman city, according to researchers.euronews+1

Archaeological Evidence

The evidence includes ceramic shards, marble fragments, and even the remains of a newborn baby buried in sediment dating between 100 to 200 CE. These artifacts confirm that life had returned to the site, despite the harsh conditions.iflscience

Archaeological data suggests this post-eruption community may have continued until the 5th century, when another volcanic event known as the "Pollena eruption" likely forced the final abandonment of the site.euronews

Previously Overlooked History

Site director Zuchtriegel noted that evidence of reoccupation had been detected before, but was often swept away during earlier excavations focused on accessing Pompeii's famous frescoes and intact homes. "The faint traces of the site's reoccupation were literally removed and often swept away without any documentation," he explained.cbsnews+1

The catastrophic eruption killed an estimated 15-20% of Pompeii's population, mostly from thermal shock as gases and ash covered the city. Today, Pompeii remains Italy's second most-visited tourist destination after Rome's Colosseum, attracting 4.17 million visitors in 2024.cbsnews