DNA Reveals New Identities of Pompeii Victims

New DNA analysis of skeletal remains from Pompeii has challenged long-held assumptions about the victims of Mount Vesuvius's eruption in A.D. 79. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that traditional interpretations of gender and family relationships among the victims were incorrect, with some individuals previously thought to be women actually being men. The research highlights the dangers of projecting modern gender norms onto ancient societies and underscores the diverse ancestry of Pompeii's residents, primarily tracing back to eastern Mediterranean immigrants. This discovery adds to the ongoing revelations about the ancient Roman city and its multicultural nature.