Latest news with #StevenEllis
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
2,000 year-old Pompeii dig reveals giraffe bone and rare glassified human brain
What Pompeii's most shocking discoveries reveal about Roman life Giraffe bone in Pompeii drain reveals Roman taste for the exotic The glass brain phenomenon of Herculaneum Eroticism in art: Pompeii's hidden museum of sexual culture Children's graffiti and political slogans: Pompeii's living walls Surgical tools and medical knowledge in ancient Rome The Catastrophe of 79 AD: How Pompeii and Herculaneum were lost Ongoing excavations and new discoveries More than two millennia ago, Mount Vesuvius erupted with cataclysmic force, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under thick layers of ash and volcanic debris. The disaster struck so suddenly in 79 AD that people, animals, and daily life were frozen in time—preserved beneath the very thing that destroyed them. What archaeologists have uncovered from these buried cities offers a remarkable glimpse into Roman civilization, from cuisine and commerce to medicine and discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of the lives that ended abruptly in Vesuvius' shadow. From exotic animal bones in market drains to vitrified human brains and political graffiti drawn by children, these finds bring ancient Rome into sharper, more vivid the remains of ancient Pompeii's bustling marketplaces, archaeologists from the University of Cincinnati uncovered a remarkable variety of food remnants in the drainage systems. Among them: sea urchins, shellfish, and most notably, the leg joint of a butchered giraffe bone is believed to be the first and only one ever discovered in an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy. Its presence indicates that Pompeii was part of a complex, far-reaching trade network that extended well beyond the Mediterranean. According to archaeologist Steven Ellis , the director of the excavation, the giraffe bone was likely discarded as kitchen waste in a working-class single find not only illustrates the luxurious tastes of Roman diners, even among non-elites, but also underscores the global scale of ancient trade and the surprising diversity of Roman neighboring Herculaneum, also devastated by the same eruption, archaeologists made a discovery as chilling as it is rare. Inside the skulls of two victims, researchers found pieces of dark glass-like material—fossilized brain tissue, formed by a process called transformation occurs when soft tissue is exposed to temperatures exceeding 510°C and then rapidly cooled, turning organic material into glass. One of the victims was found lying on a wooden bed, and both were buried under massive amounts of ash, which enveloped Herculaneum to a depth five times greater than that of vitrified brains are among the only known examples in the world and offer a haunting window into the physical trauma experienced by Vesuvius' reputation for raucous pleasures is bolstered by the widespread discovery of sexually explicit artworks, mosaics, and sculptures throughout the city. Much of this erotic art was excavated from homes, taverns, and brothels, particularly the Lupanar—the city's most famous symbols, frescoes depicting intimate acts, and statues celebrating fertility were once part of everyday life and are believed to have served not just as advertisements but also as talismans for prosperity and health. Many of these items are now displayed in the so-called "Secret Museum" of the Naples Archaeological Museum—a collection once deemed too scandalous for public viewing and sealed off in Secret Museum remained closed for over 150 years, finally reopening permanently in 2000, revealing to the public the Romans' open attitude toward sexuality and their belief in its divine and symbolic walls of Pompeii were alive with messages—political endorsements, crude jokes, love notes, and even children's drawings. One of the most fascinating aspects of the recent excavations has been the discovery of charcoal graffiti created by children, likely as young as five years simple sketches depict gladiators battling animals and each other, suggesting that children were firsthand witnesses to the brutal spectacles of the amphitheater. According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel , director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park , these illustrations may have been drawn during playtime, within view of kitchens and gardens, showing that even the youngest inhabitants were immersed in the violent rhythms of Roman addition to children's artwork, numerous electoral slogans have been preserved, offering insight into the political landscape at the time of the eruption. These inscriptions promote local candidates, underscoring how deeply politics permeated daily Roman of the more sobering finds from the ruins is the extensive collection of surgical instruments recovered from various homes and public buildings, especially a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. The tools include scalpels, forceps, hooks, and probes—many crafted from copper Romans lacked knowledge of microbial infections and germ theory, the use of copper may have provided unintended antiseptic benefits due to its antimicrobial properties. The surgical instruments highlight the complexity of Roman medical practices and suggest that physicians performed a range of procedures, possibly even in domestic was a prosperous Roman city located near modern Naples, Italy. It was obliterated when Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 AD, spewing volcanic ash, toxic gases, and pyroclastic flows that suffocated and buried the city's situated to the west of Vesuvius, suffered an even more intense fate—buried under deeper layers of ash and pumice. The volcanic explosion was estimated to be 100,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on sudden nature of the disaster meant that many victims died where they stood, and their final moments were preserved as voids in the hardened ash. Archaeologists have since injected plaster into these voids to recreate the shapes and poses of those who perished, offering a haunting portrait of life remained buried for over 1,500 years until rediscovered in 1599, with more systematic excavations beginning in the mid-18th century. The remarkable state of preservation is due to the lack of air and moisture in the volcanic ash that entombed the this day, excavations around Vesuvius continue to reveal new information. In February 2025, archaeologists uncovered the skeleton of a child crouched in the thermal baths of Pompeii—yet another tragic victim of the eruption. The discovery adds to the growing database of human stories that paint a broader picture of the ancient Roman warn that while Vesuvius is currently dormant, it remains one of the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth, looming over nearly three million residents in the Campania region. Its unpredictability serves as a chilling reminder of the destructive power of nature.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago
The town of Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was UNEARTHED Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago IT was an ordinary day when Mount Vesuvius plastered nearby towns in thick volcanic ash 2,000 years ago. A treasure trove of objects was buried, each giving an insight into the lives people led. 9 Drinks and hot food were served in this place, with large jars placed in the richly decorated masonry counter Credit: Getty 9 Archaeologists found the leg joint of a butchered giraffe beneath ancient Pompeii markets Credit: PA Butchered giraffe In the drains beneath the long-gone markets of Pompeii, archaeologists have found a rich variety of foods - from sea urchin to shellfish. But perhaps the most exotic find was the leg joint of a butchered giraffe. It is thought to be the only giraffe bone ever recorded from an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy, according to archaeologist Steven Ellis, who directs the University of Cincinnati's excavations at Pompeii. The discoveries point to busy trade relationships outside of Italy. 'How part of the animal, butchered, came to be a kitchen scrap in a seemingly standard Pompeian restaurant not only speaks to long-distance trade in exotic and wild animals, but also something of the richness, variety and range of a non-elite diet," explains Ellis. 9 This human brain tissue found at Herculaneum was turned into glass due to heat from the volcano disaster that destroyed Pompeii Credit: 9 Victims of Vesuvius were baked, boiled and buried in ash Credit: Rex Features Glass brain In Herculaneum, a town to the west of Mount Vesuvius, two bizarre pieces of dark-coloured glass were found inside the skulls of two individuals. The first piece of glass suspected to be of 'organic origin' was identified in Herculaneum in 2020. A glassy, black material was found inside the skull of a man on a wooden bed, who was buried by volcanic ash. While the second was hunk of black glass was found earlier this year. The Tragic History of Pompeii Experts believe these are fossilised brains, caused by the extreme heat from the short-lived ash cloud that swept through the ancient town of Herculaneum in 79CE. Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was. Similarly, the second victim had also been lying on their bed when the cloud descended. For the brain to become glass, it must have been heated to above 510°C before quickly cooling. This is an incredibly rare process is called vitrification. 9 Erotic Satyr and Nymph wall painting from The House of the Faun in Pompeii Credit: Universal History Archive 9 Fresco sex scene in the wall of Lupanar of Pompeii Credit: Getty Cheeky art The Romans' affinity for brothels, alcohol, and pornography has been well documented and discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. Hundreds of sexually explicit works of art from Pompeii have been placed in the Secret Museum in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. These include graphic sex scenes - which experts believe could be advertisements for local brothels - as well as lots of phallic statuary, believed to bring wealth, fertility, and good luck. Some of these pieces were so cheeky that they were deemed "pornographic" in 1821, and the museum closed the room to visitors in 1849. The Secret Museum didn't reopen for good until 2000. 9 The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other Credit: Instagram/@pompeii_parco_archeologico 9 Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today Credit: Getty Graffiti Pompeiians were politically active - and they have the graffiti to show for it. There was an upcoming election when the city was buried by Mount Vesuvius. Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today. Though it wasn't just political statements being plastered around. Last May, charcoal wall drawings were unearthed that archaeologists believe were made by children as young as five. The drawings, which were of children's height, suggest they had attended gruesome gladiator battles in the city. The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said children of the time would have come into contact with extreme forms of speculated violence. This includes the frequent executions of criminals and slaves. "We came to the conclusion that in all likelihood the drawings of the gladiators and hunters were made on the basis of a direct vision and not from pictorial models," he said in a statement at the time. "Probably one or more of the children who played in this courtyard, among the kitchens, latrine and flowerbeds for growing vegetables, had witnessed fights in the amphitheatre." 9 An array of ancient Roman surgical instruments discovered at Pompeii, on display at Naples Museum Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images Surgical tools Archaeologists have also recovered surgical instruments from Pompeii - which paint a squeamish picture of medical practices in 79 AD. Medical tools have been found in various parts of the excavated city, but most most were found at a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. While the Romans had not yet developed germ theory, many of the tools were made of copper alloys. Copper has antimicrobial properties - meaning the tools may have prevented infections.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago
IT was an ordinary day when Mount Vesuvius plastered nearby towns in thick volcanic ash 2,000 years ago. A treasure trove of objects was buried, each giving an insight into the lives people led. 9 Drinks and hot food were served in this place, with large jars placed in the richly decorated masonry counter Credit: Getty 9 Archaeologists found the leg joint of a butchered giraffe beneath ancient Pompeii markets Credit: PA Butchered giraffe In the drains beneath the long-gone markets of Pompeii, archaeologists have found a rich variety of foods - from sea urchin to shellfish. But perhaps the most exotic find was the leg joint of a butchered giraffe. It is thought to be the only giraffe bone ever recorded from an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy, according to archaeologist Steven Ellis, who directs the University of Cincinnati's excavations at Pompeii. The discoveries point to busy trade relationships outside of Italy. READ MORE ON POMPEII 'How part of the animal, butchered, came to be a kitchen scrap in a seemingly standard Pompeian restaurant not only speaks to long-distance trade in exotic and wild animals, but also something of the richness, variety and range of a non-elite diet," explains Ellis. 9 This human brain tissue found at Herculaneum was turned into glass due to heat from the volcano disaster that destroyed Pompeii Credit: 9 Victims of Vesuvius were baked, boiled and buried in ash Credit: Rex Features Glass brain In Herculaneum, a town to the west of Mount Vesuvius, two bizarre pieces of dark-coloured glass were found inside the skulls of two individuals. The first piece of A glassy, black material was found inside the skull of a man on a wooden bed, who was buried by volcanic ash. Most read in Science While the The Tragic History of Pompeii Experts believe these are fossilised brains, caused by the extreme heat from the short-lived ash cloud that swept through the ancient town of Herculaneum in 79CE. Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was. Similarly, the second victim had also been lying on their bed when the cloud descended. For the brain to become glass, it must have been heated to above 510°C before quickly cooling. This is an incredibly rare process is called vitrification. 9 Erotic Satyr and Nymph wall painting from The House of the Faun in Pompeii Credit: Universal History Archive 9 Fresco sex scene in the wall of Lupanar of Pompeii Credit: Getty Cheeky art The Romans' affinity for brothels, alcohol, and pornography has been well documented and discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. Hundreds of sexually explicit works of art from Pompeii have been placed in the Secret Museum in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. These include graphic sex scenes - which experts believe could be advertisements for local brothels - as well as lots of phallic statuary, believed to bring wealth, fertility, and good luck. Some of these pieces were so cheeky that they were deemed "pornographic" in 1821, and the museum closed the room to visitors in 1849. The Secret Museum didn't reopen for good until 2000. 9 The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other Credit: Instagram/@pompeii_parco_archeologico 9 Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today Credit: Getty Graffiti Pompeiians were politically active - and they have the graffiti to show for it. There was an upcoming election when the city was buried by Mount Vesuvius. Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today. Though it wasn't just political statements being plastered around. Last May, charcoal wall drawings were unearthed that The drawings, which were of children's height, suggest they had attended gruesome gladiator battles in the city. The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said children of the time would have come into contact with extreme forms of speculated violence. This includes the frequent executions of criminals and slaves. "We came to the conclusion that in all likelihood the drawings of the gladiators and hunters were made on the basis of a direct vision and not from pictorial models," he said in a statement at the time. "Probably one or more of the children who played in this courtyard, among the kitchens, latrine and flowerbeds for growing vegetables, had witnessed fights in the amphitheatre." 9 An array of ancient Roman surgical instruments discovered at Pompeii, on display at Naples Museum Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images Surgical tools Archaeologists have also recovered surgical instruments from Pompeii - which paint a squeamish picture of medical practices in 79 AD. Medical tools have been found in various parts of the excavated city, but most most were found at a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. While the Romans had not yet developed germ theory, many of the tools were made of copper alloys. Copper has antimicrobial properties - meaning the tools may have prevented infections. The destruction of Pompeii – what happened in 79 AD? Pompeii was an ancient Roman city near modern Naples, in the Campania region of Italy. It was destroyed, along with the Roman town of Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area, and buried under volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The violent explosion killed the city's inhabitants, with the site lost for around 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years after that. The thermal energy released from Vesuvius was said to be a hundred thousand times that of the nuclear blasts at Hiroshima-Nagasaki. The remains beneath the city have been preserved for more than a millenium due to the lack of air and moisture in the ground. During excavations, plaster was injected into the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies, allowing scientists to recreate their exact poses at the time of their deaths. Mount Vesuvius is arguably the most dangerous volcano on earth. It had been inactive for almost a century before roaring back into life and destroying Pompeii. Since then, it has exploded around three dozen more times – most recently in 1944 – and stands in close proximity to three million people. Although its current status is dormant, Vesuvius is an 'extremely active' and unpredictable volcano, according to experts. To this day, scientists are finding cultural, architectural and human remains on the banks of Mount Vesuvius. Excavations at thermal baths in Pompeii's ruins in February revealed the skeleton of a crouching child who perished in the 79 AD eruption.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Butchered giraffe and glass BRAIN found in ancient treasure trove of objects buried by Mount Vesuvius 2,000 years ago
UNEARTHED The town of Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was IT was an ordinary day when Mount Vesuvius plastered nearby towns in thick volcanic ash 2,000 years ago. A treasure trove of objects was buried, each giving an insight into the lives people led. 9 9 Butchered giraffe In the drains beneath the long-gone markets of Pompeii, archaeologists have found a rich variety of foods - from sea urchin to shellfish. But perhaps the most exotic find was the leg joint of a butchered giraffe. It is thought to be the only giraffe bone ever recorded from an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy, according to archaeologist Steven Ellis, who directs the University of Cincinnati's excavations at Pompeii. The discoveries point to busy trade relationships outside of Italy. 'How part of the animal, butchered, came to be a kitchen scrap in a seemingly standard Pompeian restaurant not only speaks to long-distance trade in exotic and wild animals, but also something of the richness, variety and range of a non-elite diet," explains Ellis. 9 Glass brain In Herculaneum, a town to the west of Mount Vesuvius, two bizarre pieces of dark-coloured glass were found inside the skulls of two individuals. The first piece of glass suspected to be of 'organic origin' was identified in Herculaneum in 2020. A glassy, black material was found inside the skull of a man on a wooden bed, who was buried by volcanic ash. While the second was hunk of black glass was found earlier this year. Experts believe these are fossilised brains, caused by the extreme heat from the short-lived ash cloud that swept through the ancient town of Herculaneum in 79CE. Herculaneum was buried under roughly five times the amount of ash that Pompeii was. Similarly, the second victim had also been lying on their bed when the cloud descended. For the brain to become glass, it must have been heated to above 510°C before quickly cooling. This is an incredibly rare process is called vitrification. 9 9 Cheeky art The Romans' affinity for brothels, alcohol, and pornography has been well documented and discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. Hundreds of sexually explicit works of art from Pompeii have been placed in the Secret Museum in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. These include graphic sex scenes - which experts believe could be advertisements for local brothels - as well as lots of phallic statuary, believed to bring wealth, fertility, and good luck. Some of these pieces were so cheeky that they were deemed "pornographic" in 1821, and the museum closed the room to visitors in 1849. The Secret Museum didn't reopen for good until 2000. 9 Graffiti Pompeiians were politically active - and they have the graffiti to show for it. There was an upcoming election when the city was buried by Mount Vesuvius. Political slogans and messages of support for candidates can still be seen preserved on the walls today. Though it wasn't just political statements being plastered around. Last May, charcoal wall drawings were unearthed that archaeologists believe were made by children as young as five. The drawings, which were of children's height, suggest they had attended gruesome gladiator battles in the city. The simple etchings depict men with shields and spears fighting animals and each other. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said children of the time would have come into contact with extreme forms of speculated violence. This includes the frequent executions of criminals and slaves. "We came to the conclusion that in all likelihood the drawings of the gladiators and hunters were made on the basis of a direct vision and not from pictorial models," he said in a statement at the time. "Probably one or more of the children who played in this courtyard, among the kitchens, latrine and flowerbeds for growing vegetables, had witnessed fights in the amphitheatre." 9 Surgical tools Archaeologists have also recovered surgical instruments from Pompeii - which paint a squeamish picture of medical practices in 79 AD. Medical tools have been found in various parts of the excavated city, but most most were found at a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. While the Romans had not yet developed germ theory, many of the tools were made of copper alloys. Copper has antimicrobial properties - meaning the tools may have prevented infections. The destruction of Pompeii – what happened in 79 AD? Pompeii was an ancient Roman city near modern Naples, in the Campania region of Italy. It was destroyed, along with the Roman town of Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area, and buried under volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The violent explosion killed the city's inhabitants, with the site lost for around 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years after that. The thermal energy released from Vesuvius was said to be a hundred thousand times that of the nuclear blasts at Hiroshima-Nagasaki. The remains beneath the city have been preserved for more than a millenium due to the lack of air and moisture in the ground. During excavations, plaster was injected into the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies, allowing scientists to recreate their exact poses at the time of their deaths. Mount Vesuvius is arguably the most dangerous volcano on earth. It had been inactive for almost a century before roaring back into life and destroying Pompeii. Since then, it has exploded around three dozen more times – most recently in 1944 – and stands in close proximity to three million people. Although its current status is dormant, Vesuvius is an 'extremely active' and unpredictable volcano, according to experts. To this day, scientists are finding cultural, architectural and human remains on the banks of Mount Vesuvius. Excavations at thermal baths in Pompeii's ruins in February revealed the skeleton of a crouching child who perished in the 79 AD eruption.
