Did the eruption that destroyed Pompeii happen in summer? A new study reopens the enigma

BarcelonaThe thick woolen clothing worn by the victims of Pompeii, when the city was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius more than two thousand years ago, suggests that the disaster may have occurred in a cold climate, according to a study by the University of Valencia presented this Saturday in Italy. At a conference taking place in Boscoreale, near Pompeii, scientists and historians have gathered to discuss this enigma of archaeology: when did the eruption occur? the end of the world in the Gulf of Naples?

One of the new findings presented at the congress is the analysis of casts of the victims' bodies from the necropolis, which indicate that they were wearing wool clothing at the time of the eruption, explained Llorenç Alapont, professor at the University of Valencia (UV) and head of the study. "In principle, wool was a type of fabric for winter or cold weather, although it is also possible that they were wearing it to protect themselves from the environment, from the gases, ash, or hot air present at that time," he added.

The topic remains a subject of debate, although the most widely accepted hypothesis to date is that the catastrophe occurred on August 24, 79 AD, based on documentation such as the writings of Pliny the Younger, one of the survivors, who described the eruption years later in letters he sent. However, gaps in some texts—the poor handwriting of Pliny's letter has led some to believe it was in November—the presence of autumn fruits in the houses and streets buried by lava, and some graffiti found in various locations dated October of that year—a common practice at the time—have fueled doubt. There are indications that the grape harvest had already taken place, and therefore, there are hypotheses that it was in autumn.

Some experts at the conference do not find sufficient evidence to make the alternative August readings "more reliable than the manuscripts," based on transcriptions made by 15th-century historians of the texts that existed at the time. According to Pedar Foss, a professor of Classical Studies at the University of Greencastle, this is "convenient." Other historians, however, believe it was later, based on evidence gathered on-site. The Dutch archaeologist Nathalie de Hann and the German Kurt Wallat, who have been excavating the central baths, favor placing the eruption between "September, October, and November." The Italian archaeologist Helga Di Giuseppe is more Solomon-like: "We can all agree that the eruption was in autumn," because in 79 AD, autumn was between August and November.

The University of Versailles has studied the interlacing of threads to determine the material of the clothing worn by Pompeians in Ancient Rome. Furthermore, they found that people found outside their homes were wearing heavier clothing than those found inside. Despite these new findings, Llorenç Alapont predicts that the debate in Italy will end with August 24th being established as the official date, "unless evidence emerges to the contrary," he told EFE.