The skeletal remains found in extraordinary images of the ‘last escapee’, who suffered a terrible death from the Mount Vesuvius eruption that occurred in 79 A.D.
Archeologists believed that the remains of this man were between 40-45 years old. They were discovered by archeologists in Herculaneum, which was then the capital of Herculaneum.
Scientists think the victim died just feet from the ocean as he attempted to escape from scorching magma, ash and toxic gases.
The unusual thing about the man is that his skeleton has his face turned inwards. This suggests that he was facing the deadly cloud that was threatening him just before his death.
Francesco Sirano, an Italian archeologist, said that most of those who found Herculaneum her were lying face down. However, he may have been trying to get to a boat when he heard the sound of the cloud racing toward him at 100 kph.
Due to the cloud of gas and ash at 930°F (500C), the man would have been dead instantly.
‘At 500C, the brain and blood boils and flesh evaporates, leaving the bones, which need 1,000C to burn,’ said biologist Pierpaolo Petrone.
According to archeologists, the victim is believed to have carried a small brown leather bag with a wooden lid. The box contained a metal ring.
The skeletal remains found in extraordinary images of the “last escapee” who perished during the devastating eruption at Mount Vesuvius, 79 A.D.
Researchers found the remains of the man in the former city of Herculaneum. Archeologists think he was 40 to 45 years of age.
Scientists suspect that the victim drowned in the water as he fled from toxic gases and scorching magma.
It is not unusual for the man to have his face turned up on his skeleton, suggesting that he was facing the cloud of death.
John Martin depicts the eruption of Vesuvius, and the destructions of Pompeii & Herculaneum.
On October 24, 1979, Vesuvius’ eruption buried Pompeii, along with nearby towns Oplontis and Stabiae, under rock fragments, mud, and ash.
While the skull was first discovered in October and unveiled in a press conference on Wednesday, the body was located in an area that more than 300 bodies of victims were hiding in hope of being found by Pliny elder’s fleet.
Sirano used special metal blades with his team to carefully and slowly chip away at the volcanic rock that had kept him trapped for over 1,942 years.
This man may be the final victim to the eruption that was discovered when digging at the site closes.
One archeologist compared Herculaneum’s eruption to Hiroshima, Japan’s destruction caused by the Second World War atomic bomb.
Camardo said that “the remains of victims have been found in a comparable condition to those at Hiroshima.” It is hard to not feel the tragedy and horror.
Ivan Varriali, an archeologist, said that the ring was reddish and meant iron. However, there’s something inside which might be bronze.
“The box appears to have been used for keeping change. If that was all the man was carrying, it could be that he wasn’t rich.”
Due to the cloud of gas and ash at 930° Fahrenheit (505C), the man would have been dead instantly
Sirano used special metal blades with his team to carefully and slowly chip away at the volcanic rock that had kept him trapped for over 1,942 years.
This man may be the final victim to the eruption that will be found as excavations close at the site.
The man who was referred to as the “last fugitive” and his story of how he got there are still a mystery.
The man who was dubbed “last fugitive” and his story of how he got there are still a mystery.
“Why didn’t he stay in shelters along with others?” Domenico Camardo an archeologist said that it was possible that he had been sent to rescue others from the boat found near him.
Some researchers believe the man could have been a fugitive or a soldier that came ashore to help rescue those trapped during the volcanic eruption.
‘[He could have been]Sirano stated that Sirano was speaking on behalf of a soldier, who might have been setting up an emergency launch in order to save a group of high-seas people.
‘Or one of the fugitives, who had moved away from the group to reach the sea hoping to be able to embark on one of the lifeboats, who knows perhaps the last and most unfortunate of a group that had managed to take off,’ Sirano added.
The skeleton and face of the last fugitive, who faced the cloud of ashes when he was killed in 79 AD is shown close up
View from Herculaneum Archaeological Park, Naples, Italy on Wednesday
A view of The Last Fugitive of Herculaneum at the Presentation of the Discovery ‘The Last Fugitive of Herculaneum’ and his Possessions
Camardo stated that the Vesuvius eruption hit Herculaneum in a different way than it did Pompeii.
According to him, Pompeii was destroyed in a torrent of ash-lapillus rain that buried it for three to four meters. Herculaneum instead was first decimated by the pyroclastic clouds at temperatures exceeding 400°F. It destroyed trees, residents and other forms life.
Camardo explained that six volcanic mud waves flooded the city and submerged it in almost 20m of material.
‘But this flood of mud, which then hardened, allowed the conservation of all the organic relics, as oxygen was not able to filter through… so today we find things like items of food, which haven’t been found in Pompeii.’
On October 24, 1979, Vesuvius’ eruption buried Pompeii, along with nearby towns Oplontis and Stabiae, under rock fragments, mud, and ash.
According to estimates, at least 2000 people died in the aftermath of the eruption.
Many remains left from the eruption were recovered in the 1980s/90s. One of these was an ash-gased soldier that was trying to rescue Herculaneum residents.
Recent digs in May revealed that part of his armor was found and that a small bag containing a variety of carpentry tools had been hidden inside. This suggests that he might have played an even more significant role.
Sirano also participated in the May discovery. He said, ‘He might be an officer of that fleet that took part the rescue mission launched in by Pliny The Elder to aid the people living in these parts of the Bay of Naples.
A lot of remains of the eruption were found in the 1980s or 1990s. Experts believe one of them was a soldier who ran into the gas and ash to save residents at Herculaneum.
An armor piece and a small bag filled with tools for carpentry were discovered in a recent dig.
Named skeleton 26 by his friends, the man was discovered in volcanic ashes, with his face pressed into the sand, and his arms extended as though reaching for assistance.
Skeleton 26 was found near the grave of the “fugitive”, but contained several artifacts which suggest that he wasn’t a prisoner aboard the ship.
Archaeologists discovered an archaeological belt of leather decorated with silver-gold plates and gold rings around the man’s waste. This also housed the hero’s sword with ivory hilt.
Another dagger was fastened to his belt at the other end of his body.
Next to the remains sat a trove of coins splashed out on the ground – 12 silver denarri and two gold coins.
Experts believe that the total amount amounts to about the monthly salaries of Pretorian Guard, an elite unit from the Imperial Roman Army.
These soldiers were used as personal guards to the Emperors as well as as intelligence agents for the military force.
In a statement, archaeologists said that “The Skelet is the Hero of this Story”.
“A Navy soldier came to save the people of Herculaneum. They crammed their many belongings into the containers and waited for hours at the shore.
“Another man didn’t make the cut, but he was too killed in just a few seconds by the pyroclastic winds that came down from Vesuvius.”
In the year 79 A.D., Vesuvius’ eruption instantly decimated the residents of Pompeii. It also destroyed the neighboring Herculaneum. The volcano buried an area of 12 miles in only a few hours.
One of the most tragic natural disasters is Mount Vesuvius’ eruption. history.
Within 15 minutes of the eruption, thousands died in Pompeii from volcanic poisoning.
The clouds are more dangerous to humans than lava because they travel faster—up to 450mph—and can reach temperatures of 1,800F.
What happened to Pompeii, Herculaneum? The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed their map 2,000 years earlier
How did it happen?
Mount Vesuvius was erupted around the year AD79. It buried the cities of Pompeii and Oplontis under rocks fragments and ashes, while the city of Herculaneum was under a flood of mudflow.
Mount Vesuvius is a volcano that is active on the coast of Italy. It is also one of the most deadly volcanoes.
Every single resident died instantly when the southern Italian town was hit by a 500°C pyroclastic hot surge.
The dense mixture of volcanic material and hot gas that flows down the sides of volcanoes at high speeds is called Pyroclastic flow.
They are more dangerous than lava because they travel faster, at speeds of around 450mph (700 km/h), and at temperatures of 1,000°C.
Pliny Pliny The Younger, an administrator and poet, watched from a distance the tragedy unfold.
The 16th century saw letters that described what he saw.
He suggests in his writing that Pompeii residents were unaware of the volcanic eruption.
Mount Vesuvius was erupted around the year AD79. It buried the cities of Pompeii and Oplontis under rock fragments and ashes, while the city of Herculaneum was submerged under a flood of mudflow.
He claimed that the volcano had produced a smoke column ‘like an umbrella tree’ which made the area around the volcano as dark as the night.
Some ran to their deaths screaming, others screamed, and still others wept during the rain of ash- and pumice that fell over several hours.
Although the eruption lasted around 24 hours it was over by midnight when the first pyroclastic explosions started, which caused the volcano’s column collapse.
At 124mph (199kph), an avalanche demolished the volcano’s side, burying the victims and preserving the traces of daily life.
Many hundreds of people fled to the Herculaneum seaside, holding their money and jewelry.
The Orto dei fuggiaschi, or “The Garden of the Fugitives”, shows the thirteen bodies of victims who tried to escape Pompeii after the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 AD.
People fled Pompeii, or sought refuge in their houses. Their bodies were then covered with blankets from the surge.
Pliny didn’t estimate the death toll, but the event was described as ‘exceptional’ with more than 10,000 deaths.
Was it surprising what they discovered?
It ended the lives of these cities, but preserved them for nearly 1700 year by archaeologists.
It has provided unparalleled insights into Roman life through the discovery of Pompeii (the industrial heart of the area) and Herculaneum (a small resort on the coast).
It is a city that has been ash-covered for many years. Archaeologists continue to uncover new information.
Archaeologists discovered an alleyway full of grand homes in May. The balconies were mostly preserved and kept their original colors.
Cast of a plaster dog taken from Pompeii House of Orpheus. The chaos claimed the deaths of around 30,000 people, and bodies are still being found to this day.
Some balconies had even amphorae, which were conical-shaped Terracotta vases used in Roman times to store wine and oil.
It has been called a “complete novelty” and the Italian Culture Ministry hopes that they will be restored and open to the public.
The ruins of an ancient city are void of any upper stores. They were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius volcano, and then buried beneath up to 6 meters of volcanic rubble and ash.
It is believed that around 30,000 people died during the chaos. Many bodies are still being found to this day.