Researchers once thought the victims were bejeweled women, but DNA identified them as men

A recent study published in the journal Current Biology revealed new insights about the identities, origins, and relationships of the victims of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Through DNA analysis of 14 individuals preserved in Pompeii's famous plaster casts, an international team of researchers challenged long-held assumptions about the city's inhabitants, revealing a more complex and multicultural society than previously believed.

The research was led by scientists from the University of Florence in Italy, Harvard University in the United States, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany. Key figures in the study include forensic archaeologist Elena Pilli and geneticists Stefania Vai, David Reich, and Alissa Mittnik. The team extracted highly fragmented DNA from bone and tooth fragments within the plaster casts, which had been made in the 19th century by pouring liquid plaster into voids left by decomposed bodies.

One of the most significant findings concerns a group of four individuals from the House of the Golden Bracelet. Previously, these individuals were thought to represent a family—a mother holding her child, with the father nearby. However, DNA analysis revealed that all four individuals were genetically male and not biologically related. There are no women among the dead in the house.

The adult figure wearing a gold bracelet, long assumed to be a woman due to the jewelry and position holding a child, was identified as male. This challenges traditional archaeological interpretations that associate jewelry with femininity. 

Another set of remains, known as The Two Maidens, was previously believed to depict two sisters embracing in their final moments. Genetic analysis, however, showed that at least one of the individuals was male, and they were not related through the maternal line, according to Archaeology Magazine.

The study's findings challenge modern assumptions about gender roles and familial relationships in ancient societies. "These findings challenge traditional assumptions about gender and family," said David Reich, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School in a statement reported by CNN.

The genetic diversity uncovered in the analysis indicates that Pompeii was a cosmopolitan city with inhabitants originating from various regions across the Mediterranean. The genomes of the victims showed lineages from Eastern Mediterranean countries, North Africa, and areas corresponding to modern-day Turkey, Lebanon, and Italy, according to La República.

Alissa Mittnik of the Max Planck Institute emphasized the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions. "Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies," she said, according to a report by Huffington Post.

The researchers also addressed how previous restorations of the plaster casts may have influenced interpretations of the victims' identities and relationships. The casts, created by archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli in 1863, involved pouring plaster into voids left by decomposed bodies. Subsequent restorations sometimes altered the positions and postures of the casts, leading to narratives that aligned with modern expectations rather than historical reality. 

The findings "highlight the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions," Mittnik explained, according to a report by RPP Noticias.

The revelations about Pompeii's population have significant implications for understanding social structures in the Roman Empire. The presence of individuals with diverse genetic backgrounds suggests a society with significant mobility and cultural exchange. 

The research team plans to continue their work, with an additional 168 individuals under study to provide a more comprehensive picture of Pompeii's ancient population. Their ongoing efforts aim to deepen our understanding of the genetic diversity, social dynamics, and daily lives of those who lived—and died—in Pompeii.

Sources: ABC News Australia, CNN, La República, Folha de S.Paulo, RPP Noticias, Huff Post, Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo, Al-Bayan, SciencePost, Proceso, Mirror, Scienze Notizie, NPR, The Independent, El Cronista, Chosun Ilbo, Ars Technica, Helsingin Sanomat, Archaeology Magazine

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq