A recent study led by an international team of researchers has unveiled new insights into the victims of Pompeii, challenging longstanding ᴀssumptions about the idenтιтies and relationships of those entombed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. This research, published on November 7, 2024, in Current Biology, relies on ancient DNA extracted from skeletal remains within the plaster casts that have preserved the forms of Pompeii’s residents for nearly two millennia.

Casts of the victims in Pompeii, buried in 79 CE. Courtesy of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii

For centuries, scholars have examined these casts, attempting to deduce the victims’ relationships and stories based on physical proximity, attire, and positioning at the time of their deaths. Traditional interpretations often ᴀssumed family connections based on these factors. For instance, an adult wearing a golden bracelet and holding a child was widely believed to be a mother with her child. However, DNA evidence now reveals that this adult was an unrelated male holding a child, dismantling this long-standing interpretation. Similarly, two individuals found in a close embrace, once thought to be sisters or a mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male.

The study team, including researchers from Harvard University, the University of Florence, and the Max Planck Insтιтute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, analyzed 14 of 86 casts undergoing restoration. The team utilized ancient DNA extraction methods alongside strontium isotope analysis, which helped ascertain the Sєx, ancestry, and genetic relationships of the individuals. Alissa Mittnik, an archaeogeneticist at Harvard and the Max Planck Insтιтute, said: “Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies.” By integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical records, the study advocates for a more nuanced understanding of Pompeii’s diverse society, a reflection of the Roman Empire’s broader cosmopolitan nature.

Interestingly, the DNA results revealed a wide array of genetic backgrounds among the Pompeiians, pointing to a population descended largely from immigrants from the eastern Mediterranean. According to David Caramelli of the University of Florence, the genetic evidence adds complexity to the simple kinship narratives that have dominated prior analyses of Pompeii’s victims. For example, in the so-called House of the Golden Bracelet, the four individuals traditionally viewed as a nuclear family — two parents with their children — were, in reality, unrelated to one another. This debunks ᴀssumptions that physical closeness or similar attire necessarily indicates familial bonds.

Casts of the victims in Pompeii. Credit: Claus Ableiter, CC BY-SA 3.0

These findings illustrate the dangers of relying solely on visual and contextual clues to interpret archaeological data. The study also reflects broader shifts within archaeological methodology, as researchers increasingly turn to interdisciplinary techniques to reconstruct ancient lives.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, noted that DNA analysis now plays a central role in Pompeii’s research initiatives, not only for human remains but also for animal remains. He explained that the park’s in-house laboratory conducts a variety of analyses — including isotopic analysis, diagnostics, geology, volcanology, and reverse engineering — to offer a comprehensive and scientifically updated interpretation of the findings.

More information: Pilli, E., Vai, S., Moses, V. C., Morelli, S., Lari, M., Modi, A., … Mittnik, A. (2024). Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts. Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.007