Herculaneum

ancient Rome · volcano · archaeology

Buried by Vesuvius. In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted violently and sent a massive wave of hot ash and rock called a pyroclastic flow that buried the entire Roman town of Herculaneum. The town was preserved almost perfectly under layers of ash and pumice.

Window to the past. Because Herculaneum was buried so quickly, it preserved Roman buildings, streets, and everyday objects almost exactly as they were nearly 2,000 years ago. Archaeologists can study how regular Romans actually lived, worked, and what they ate.

Amazing discoveries. Excavations have uncovered wooden furniture, loaves of bread, scrolls of writing, and even the shapes of people and animals left as hollow spaces in the ash. These finds tell us incredible details about Roman life that we wouldn't know otherwise.

Still being explored. Herculaneum is located near Naples in Italy and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Archaeologists continue to dig carefully and discover new treasures from this remarkable buried city.