(CN) — In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii under layers of ash and freezing the lives of its people in time. This catastrophic event preserved the Roman town and its inhabitants, leaving behind a snapshot of ancient life. Over 1,900 years later, new genetic research is rewriting much of what historians and archaeologists believed about Pompeii’s people.
In a study published Wednesday in Current Biology, researchers detail how DNA samples from Pompeii’s plaster body casts reveal surprises about sex, family ties and the origins of those who lived there.
By analyzing ancient DNA and strontium isotopes from 14 of the 86 casts currently undergoing restoration, researchers have challenged traditional interpretations.
“I think it is very interesting to use genetic data to complete or sometimes, as in this case, rewrite the history of individuals who lived in the past,” said David Caramelli of the Universita di Firenze, one of the study’s lead authors, in an email. “For the victims of Pompeii this is much more interesting, because it is as if you were taking a photograph in a city of the past where unfortunately life stopped due to the tragic event which saw the death of hundreds of people.”
The research team sought to provide a clearer picture of who the Pompeiians were by focusing on genetic data rather than assumptions based on artifact placement or physical arrangement.
According to researchers, traditionally, the positioning of the casts led to certain assumptions. For instance, an adult holding a child and wearing a golden bracelet was long considered a mother and child. However, DNA now reveals that this pair was actually an unrelated adult male and a child. Another pair thought to be mother and daughter or sisters turned out to include at least one genetic male.
These findings shake up the narrative surrounding the lives and identities of Pompeii’s people, illustrating that physical appearance alone can lead to misleading conclusions.
According to researchers, their findings went beyond challenging familial ties — they also revealed the diverse ancestry of the Pompeiians. The data shows that Pompeii was home to people of varied backgrounds, with a strong connection to recent immigrants from the eastern Mediterranean.
“Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies,” Alissa Mittnik, a researcher from Harvard University, said in a press release. “They highlight the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions.”
Pompeii was not a small, insular community but rather a vibrant, cosmopolitan town that reflected the broader Roman Empire’s diversity and interconnectedness.
The researchers argue that the diversity within Pompeii highlights the value of viewing ancient societies through a multidisciplinary lens, one that includes DNA evidence alongside traditional archaeological methods. Their work serves as a reminder of the Roman Empire’s reach and the cultural exchanges that shaped its towns and cities.
According to Caramelli, these findings serve as a cautionary tale about relying on limited or biased evidence.
“This study illustrates how unreliable narratives based on limited evidence can be, often reflecting the worldview of the researchers at the time,” he said. The Pompeii study shows that the past may not always be what it seems at first glance.”