As it seems, a mystery that dates back about 2000 years has probably found an answer now. Specifically, in 1933, archaeologists excavating Pompeii, the Roman city that had literally disappeared after a huge eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.found the remains of two people, whose skeletons were preserved almost perfectly from the volcanic ash that buried their home.
As you can see in the photo below, the residents of the ‘House of Craftsmen’ decided to spend their last moments in their dining room, almost as if they were eating the moment the end was coming. It is without a doubt a shocking scene that archaeologists have been trying to decipher for some time. We now have the best answer as to what might have happened to these two Romans, thanks to the latest developments in DNA sequencing technology.
More specifically, a joint team of researchers from Italy, Denmark and the USA announced that they have recently managed to successfully analyze the sequence of the genome of one of these two inhabitants. This is a remarkable development, as it is the first time that Archaeologists are deciphering the mitochondrial DNA of a Pompeian. The genetic material was detached from the stony part of the temporal bone, a dense bone that is about the shape of a pyramid and protects the inside of the ears.
So, analyzing the DNA, the team found that the male resident of the house was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine, ie Pott disease, as it is known today. Related symptoms include back pain and paralysis of the lower body. As the archaeologist Dr. points out. Pier Francesco Fabbri, who participated in the research, “his condition would result in limited mobility.” Therefore, it is very likely that the man, who was about 35 years old when he died, would find it difficult to leave Pompeii even if he wanted to escape from the burning city. So almost 2000 years ago, a dramatic story took placewhich has now come to light.
Finally, it is worth noting that thanks to the research we have a better picture of the origin of this man. Comparing his DNA with 1,030 ancient and 471 modern-day people in Western Eurasia, the research team concluded that some of his ancestors came from Asia Minor, which is now mainly part of modern-day Turkey. At the same time it had ties to the island of Sardinia, which is located in western Italy. Of course, most of the genetic similarities he had are with people living in and around Rome during the destruction of Pompeii. This reinforces the notion that the Italian peninsula was a crossroads for many different races at the height of the Roman Empire.
The research was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
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