Researchers have discovered a skeleton that captures the moments of escape from a volcano around two thousand years ago. The skeleton, found by archaeologists in southern Italy, belongs to a man who died during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Francesco Serrano, director of the Herculaneum archaeological park south of Naples, told the Italian news agency ANSA, "We expect to gain a lot from this discovery." He added that this skeleton will provide information about the final moments of the city of Herculaneum before it was buried, which in ancient times was located in the area that is now Herculaneum. During the eruption of Vesuvius at that time, the famous city of Pompeii was also buried.
Serrano explained in a video published by ANSA that the man was found with his head facing the sea. It is believed he was between 40 and 45 years old. Researchers assume that he fell to the ground due to a cloud of glowing hot ash while likely trying to escape. Experts found the skeleton in a site that had last been excavated about 25 years ago. At that time, remains of more than 300 people were found, reported to have sought refuge there in small encampments, waiting for the fleet of the Roman officer Pliny the Elder to transport them to safety.
