A new genetic analysis of 14 bodies recovered from Pompeii is casting doubt on some of the initial interpretations of their identities before the cataclysmic volcanic eruption. A team of archaeologists and geneticists used a new genomic analysis to discover more about who these individuals were. They eventually discovered that their biological sexes and family relationships did not match the initial interpretations. The findings are detailed in a study published Nov. 7 in the journal Current Biology.
“This study illustrates how implausible narratives based on limited evidence can be, often reflecting the worldview of researchers at the time,” David Caramelli, a study co-author and archaeologist at the Universita di Firenze in Italy, said in a statement.
[Related: Pompeii’s archaeological puzzles can be solved with a little help from chemistry.]
In 79 CE, the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic system erupted in southern Italy. Earthquakes and violent explosions completely buried the inhabitants of the small Roman city of Pompeii. Volcanic ash covered and preserved many of the bodies. The remains of the city were first discovered in 1599 and in the 19th century, scientists began to uncover the remains and preserved some in plaster.
This new study investigated DNA evidence that was taken from some of these bodies.
The team used the same strontium isotopes that were used to date the DNA samples to better understand the diversity and origins of Pompeii’s inhabitants. The team extracted DNA from highly fragmented human skeletal remains mixed with the plaster that was used to preserve the bodies. They focused on 14 of the 86 castes undergoing restoration, with the goal of using DNA to learn as much as they could about these individuals. Their approach allowed them to pinpoint the genetic relationships, sex and parentage of those 14 individuals.
“The scientific data we provide does not always match common assumptions,” study co-author and Harvard University geneticist David Reich said in a statement. “For example, a notable example is the discovery that an adult wearing a gold bracelet and carrying a child, traditionally interpreted as a mother and child, were an unrelated adult male and child. Similarly, a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male. These findings challenge traditional gender and family assumptions.”
[Related: ‘Violent’ earthquakes accompanied the infamous volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii.]
Genetic data revealed that these Pompeians had different genomic origins. They were mostly descended from an eastern Mediterranean immigrant group. According to the team, this emphasizes the cosmopolitan nature of the Roman Empire. The findings also highlight the need to use genetic analysis and tools from other scientific disciplines to fully understand Pompeii’s past and beyond.
“Our findings have important implications for interpreting the archaeological record and understanding ancient societies,” study co-author and Harvard University archaeogeneticist Alyssa Mittnik said in a statement. “They emphasize the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions. This study also highlights the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Pompeii’s population, reflecting wider patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire.