How people returned to Pompeii and lived among the ruins for centuries

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Before this tragic event, the city was home to more than 20,000 people. Despite the massive devastation, some who couldn’t start anew elsewhere returned and settled in the desolate area.

This discovery was reported by a team of Italian archaeologists. They said that former residents of Pompeii who survived were joined by others looking for a place to settle, hoping to find valuable items left among the ruins by the city’s original inhabitants.

From Order and Prosperity to Anarchy

This phrase aptly describes the mood among the new wave of inhabitants. “Based on archaeological data, this was likely an informal settlement where people lived under harsh conditions, without the infrastructure and services typical of a Roman city,” the team said. They added that by the 5th century, this area was completely abandoned.

While some life returned to the upper floors of old buildings, the former lower levels were transformed into cellars with stoves and mills.

“Thanks to new excavations, the picture has become clearer,” remarked Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. He said the city was being revived, but it was a “fragile and gray cluster, a sort of camp, a favela among the ruins.”

Evidence that this place was resettled had been found sporadically by archaeologists before. However, because numerous visitors tried to access the colorful frescoes and the ruins of houses, “the minor traces of the city’s resettlement were literally destroyed.”

Researchers estimate that 15 to 20 percent of Pompeii’s population perished in the volcanic eruption, mostly from heatstroke as a massive cloud of gas and ash enveloped the city. The volcanic ash buried Pompeii, preserving homes, public buildings, household items, and even people until their rediscovery in the late 16th century.

Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the second most visited tourist attraction in Italy after the Colosseum in Rome. Last year, Pompeii welcomed around 4.17 million visitors, according to ScienceAlert.

The total area of Pompeii is about 22 hectares, but a third of it remains buried under volcanic ash.

Photo: pixabay.com