The Fight Over Pompeii

The year was 79 A.D. in the bustling Roman city of Pompeii. For months, the city had been rattled by earthquakes. These ground-shaking events are common along Italy’s west coast. So Pompeii’s roughly 20,000 residents weren’t very worried.

But the quivering earth was a warning. Magma was moving underground. And Mount Vesuvius, a towering volcano east of Pompeii, was about to blow. The eruption began with a massive gray cloud rising into the sky. Superhot rock, lava, and gas raced down the volcano’s slopes, burying Pompeii under 10 meters (33 feet) of ash. Over time, the ash hardened, preserving the city.

Since workers discovered Pompeii’s ruins in 1748, researchers have been drawn to the site. But there’s a problem. Two groups of scientists want to study Pompeii: archaeologists, who study human history and culture, and volcanologists, who study volcanoes. To do their work, volcanologists need to analyze the layers of soil. But for many years, archaeologists have been digging up the city’s remains, disturbing that soil. Can the experts find ways to work together?

Pompeii was a busy Roman city in 79 A.D. That year, earthquakes shook the town for months. Earthquake happen often along Italy’s west coast. So Pompeii’s 20,000 residents weren’t that worried.

But shaking ground was a warning. Magma was moving beneath Mount Vesuvius. The volcano towered over Pompeii. And it was about to blow. First, a huge gray cloud rose into the sky. Hot rock, lava, and gas raced down the volcano’s sides. Ash 10 meters (33 feet) deep buried Pompeii. That preserved the city.

Workers found Pompeii’s ruins in 1748. Scientists have been drawn to the site ever since. But there’s a problem. Two groups want to study the city in two different ways. Archaeologists study human history and culture. They’ve been digging up Pompeii for many years. That has disturbed the soil. Volcanologists need it to learn more about volcanoes. Can the experts find ways to work together?

Pompeii is a unique site for archaeologists. Most ancient cities were abandoned and decayed long before they were discovered. But Pompeii was full of activity when the volcano burst. “It was a thriving city that was demolished overnight,” says archaeologist Steven Ellis. He’s a member of the scientific committee for the Great Pompeii Project, the group that manages the excavation, or digging up, of the site. 

Pompeii is a special site. Most ancient cities were left to crumble. Eventually, they were discovered again. But Pompeii was full of activity when the volcano hit. “It was a thriving city that was demolished overnight,” says Steven Ellis. He’s an archaeologist. He’s also a member of the Great Pompeii Project. This group manages digging up the site. 

Pompeii’s artifacts shed light on life in the Roman Empire. This influential group of states ruled by Rome existed from 27 b.c. to 476 a.d. Researchers have found graffiti promoting gladiator fights and even a fast-food shop. “We’ve found bones from fish and pigs that tell us what people ate,” says Ellis.  

Evidence of the victims have also been unearthed. After the eruption, ash hardened around human bodies. As the bodies decayed, the cavities were left behind, revealing the final moments of Pompeii’s people.

Pompeii is filled with artifacts. Scientists have found graffiti that advertises gladiator fights. They even found a fast-food shop. “We’ve found bones from fish and pigs that tell us what people ate,” says Ellis. These and other objects shed light on life in the Roman Empire. It was a powerful group of states ruled by Rome. It existed from 27 B.C. to 476 A.D. 

Clues about the volcano’s victims have also been dug up. Ash hardened around bodies. Then the bodies rotted away. That left human-shaped holes in the ash. Those holes reveal the final moments of Pompeii’s people.

For archaeologists, Pompeii’s treasures are buried in soil. But to volcanologists, that soil is worth more than gold. It contains material left by each eruption. These deposits provide clues about past eruptions, says volcanologist Christopher Kilburn. 

In 2010, scientists analyzed the soil at Pompeii to build a model of the 79 a.d. eruption. The model revealed that ash, rock, and gas reached 300˚C (572˚F). It traveled at hurricane speeds, killing people instantly. 

Chemicals in the deposits can also reveal what the magma inside the volcano was like just before the 79 a.d. eruption. If scientists find that the magma is similar today, it might signal that the volcano is reawakening.

Vesuvius has erupted dozens of times, most recently in 1944, killing 26 people. If the volcano’s next burst is a big one, that could mean trouble for the 700,000 people living nearby.

Archaeologists remove Pompeii’s soil to find its treasures. But to volcanologists, that same soil is worth more than gold. It contains material left behind by the volcano. The material gives hints about past eruptions, says Christopher Kilburn. He’s a volcanologist.

Scientists studied the soil at Pompeii in 2010. They used it to build a model of the 79 A.D. eruption. The model revealed how hot ash, rock, and gas got. It reached 300˚C (572˚F). It traveled at hurricane speeds. It killed people instantly. 

Scientists also study chemicals in the soil. They can reveal what was going on inside the volcano before it erupted. Scientists can learn about its magma. They can compare it to the volcano’s magma today. If the magma is similar, the volcano might be waking up again.

Vesuvius has erupted dozens of times. It most recently did so in 1944, killing 26 people. Today, 700,000 people live near the volcano. Another big eruption would be a disaster.