A new study published in the Pompeii Excavations online journal reveals the final moments of a family during the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius. At the House of Helle and Phrixus in Pompeii, archaeologists found that the family attempted to barricade a bedroom door with a bed to survive the eruption, but perished. The remains of at least four individuals, including a child, were identified, along with a bronze amulet worn by the child and bronze kitchenware in the pantry.
The discovery underscores the human tragedy behind the archaeological site, connecting visitors to the precariousness of life in ancient Pompeii. The ongoing excavations and conservation efforts at Pompeii, which attracts over four million visitors annually, continue to yield insights into daily life and death in the Roman city, especially after UNESCO threatened to place the site on its endangered list in 2013.