The discovery of a village buried by Vesuvius 2000 years before Pompeii

Archaeologists have discovered the preserved remains of the ancient village of Avragola, buried under meters of ash, mud and placer deposits during the eruption of the Pliny’s volcano Vesuvius some 4,000 years ago.

The eruption of the volcano Vesuvius

It is located near present-day Naples, about 15 kilometers from Mount Vesuviusthe former villageAvragola It covers an area of ​​5,000 square metres, making it one of the most studied Early Bronze Age settlements in Italy. The impressive level of preservation and the diversity of plants preserved at the site have enabled anthropologist Tiziana Matarazzo and her colleagues to determine the time of year during whicheruption and its various stages.

” This site completely buried by the eruption gives us unique insight into the people who lived there and their environment ’,” explains the researcher and lead author of the new study, published in Journal of Archaeological Sciences: Reports. ” The discovery of fruit and planting material allowed us to determine the eruption season, which is usually impossible. »

While the initial stage of the eruption included a spectacular eruption that threw debris to the northeast, the team discovered that the final stage (called the electromagnetic stage) brought mainly ash and water, scattering to the west and northwest for a distance of about 25 kilometers.

[DÉCOUVERTE] Avragola: Pompeii was discovered in Italy from the Bronze Age

The construction of the train line made it possible to discover a village near Naples that held the ashes of Vesuvius for 4,000 years, the journal Archaeological Sciences announced. pic.twitter.com/9PXibEBqWP

– gazette drouot (@gazette_drouot) October 7, 2022

” The village was buried under a thick layer of volcanic material that replaced the plant macromineral particles and produced perfect molds in a material called cinerite, resistant to decay even after several thousand years. Matarazzo details. ” We also discovered a building where grain and various agricultural products were stored. It was likely struck by lava material, caught fire and collapsed, charring the plant material stored inside.. »

Diverse food sources

During the Bronze Age, the Campanian Plain was home to a rich variety of food sources, including a variety of grains, barley, nuts (including hazelnuts), wild apples, dogwoods, pomegranates, and horn cherries. eruption.

According to the team, this organic evidence indicates that the volcanic eruption occurred in the fall, when villagers were stockpiling their food supplies in the nearby forest. “ The imprints of the leaves at the base of the trees as well as the ripened fruits indicate seasonality Write researchers.

” This powerful explosion, whose shaft practically rose to the height of aircraft flight, permanently modified the climate. Matarazzo says. The ash cover was so thick that it preserved the site for 4,000 years. Today we can get to know the people who lived there and tell their stories. »