Archaeology and the Dead III: The Day the World Exploded: Pompeii and Herculaneum

For the residents of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the day the world exploded was August 24, 79 CE. It is the day a sleeping dragon awoke and rained fire down on their world, bringing death to thousands. The destruction brought by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on that day is only matched by the extraordinary preservation it left in its wake. Frescos, papyri, loaves of bread, and human skeletal remains are some of the well-preserved materials uncovered by archaeologists. At Pompeii, more than a thousand imprints of human bodies have been recovered. The preservation that allowed for this resulted from the mountain of material that covered the remains and the extreme heat (up to 600˚ Celsius) that carbonized organic materials. The preservation has provided experts with a treasure trove of information about the lives, and deaths, of these ancient Roman citizens. The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was by no means the strongest eruption ever recorded, but it remains one of the most dangerous volcanos in Europe. Millions now live in its shadow in defiance of the dragon. That makes the research done at sites like Pompeii and Herculaneum even more important as experts plan for future eruptions. This book tells the story of the eruption on that terrible day in a succinct, compelling manner that is packed with scientific information.