Archaeologists discovered that people returned to Pompeii after the eruption

• Archaeologists confirmed that the inhabitants returned to the ruins after the eruption.
• New research revealed informal settlements at the site of the ancient city.
• Pompeii became an important tourist destination, preserved thanks to the eruption.

Archaeologists have found new evidence that people returned to live among the ruins of Pompeii after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which destroyed the city.

During the massive destruction, as noted by Pompeii, over 20,000 people survived, some of whom did not have the means to start a new life in another place, returned to this territory. It is likely that their descendants sought out places for settlement and hoped to find valuable resources, left by previous inhabitants.

"According to archaeological data, this was an informal settlement where people lived under precarious conditions, without infrastructure and services, characteristic of a Roman city," said Gabriel Tsukhtregel, director of the archaeological complex.

Some life returned to the upper levels of ancient buildings, while the lower levels were remodeled in the style of stoves and mills.

Archaeologists believe that this informal settlement existed until the 5th century. They also noted that in the rush to collect preserved artifacts from Pompeii, "subtle traces of repeated settlement were literally erased and often went unnoticed without any documentation."

The destruction of the city in 79 AD is remembered, but new findings help to clarify the situation: Pompeii post-79 appears not as a deserted place, but as a lively and bustling settlement, akin to a tabernacle or a favorite gathering spot among the recognized ruins.

Today, Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Italy, with approximately 4.17 million visitors last year.

The area of the archaeological complex covers about 22 hectares, with one-third of which is buried under the ash.

Tags: Europe/Research