Skeletons of Herculaneum
Analysis
Many of the skeletons found in Herculaneum were found in groups along the beach unlike those found in Pompeii. This is because many of them went down to the shore hoping to escape by boat, but instead they were incinerated by the pyroclastic surges. People of all ages, sex, and occupation were found together on the beach or huddled in the boat arcades. Chemical analysis of the bones of the skeletons showed high levels of lead which supported the fact that lead was used in many of their everyday items, such as makeup, medicines, paint, pottery glazes, and to line cups and plates[1]. Anthropologist Sara Bisel examined the teeth of the skeletons and found that many have extremely good dental health compared to people in today's world as they didn't consume much sugar- this was a rather expensive luxury, but in the case of the Ring Lady who had no cavities but suffered from gum disease which showed the commonness of our diseases back then. The teeth were also able to show how high the temperature rose, as the cracks in them indicated that in a confined area such as the boat arcades the temperature exceeded 900 degrees Fahrenheit [2]. Further analysis of the bones and teeth show that the people of Herculaneum had a balanced diet, which most likely included fish as it is high in fluoride, and prevented cavities from forming, and was easily gained as Herculaneum was a coastal town. Anthropologists such as Sara Bisel could also identify the age, sex, social class, and sometimes occupation of a victim based on their bones. For the skeletons of Herculaneum social class could be determined by the amount of wear on the bones, diet and the amount of jewellery found on or around them.
Conclusion
The skeletons at Herculaneum provide valuable insight to Roman social life which makes the eruption of Mt Vesuvius significant. The skeletons found along the beach and in the boat arcades are the largest collection to be found as Romans generally cremated their dead[3]. The preservation of the skeleton allows for tests to be carried out on them that can provide details of what the people ate, the diseases they had and the general details of the population as a whole, which gives insight to the amount of issues they had compared to today, for example obesity was a much of an issue then as it is now[4]. Because some of the skulls were broken we can understand how different temperatures affects us and tell us what would happen if a disaster like this ever happened again. DNA analysis can show us the consequences- good and bad, of living in Ancient Rome. The eruption is significant because of the degree at which it preserved the skeletons which allowed an in depth, detailed analysis of the bones to be carried out.
[1]- The Secrets of Vesuvius
[2]- Bodies from the Ash
[3]- webesite- vesuviusandpompeii
[4]- website- mariamalina
Many of the skeletons found in Herculaneum were found in groups along the beach unlike those found in Pompeii. This is because many of them went down to the shore hoping to escape by boat, but instead they were incinerated by the pyroclastic surges. People of all ages, sex, and occupation were found together on the beach or huddled in the boat arcades. Chemical analysis of the bones of the skeletons showed high levels of lead which supported the fact that lead was used in many of their everyday items, such as makeup, medicines, paint, pottery glazes, and to line cups and plates[1]. Anthropologist Sara Bisel examined the teeth of the skeletons and found that many have extremely good dental health compared to people in today's world as they didn't consume much sugar- this was a rather expensive luxury, but in the case of the Ring Lady who had no cavities but suffered from gum disease which showed the commonness of our diseases back then. The teeth were also able to show how high the temperature rose, as the cracks in them indicated that in a confined area such as the boat arcades the temperature exceeded 900 degrees Fahrenheit [2]. Further analysis of the bones and teeth show that the people of Herculaneum had a balanced diet, which most likely included fish as it is high in fluoride, and prevented cavities from forming, and was easily gained as Herculaneum was a coastal town. Anthropologists such as Sara Bisel could also identify the age, sex, social class, and sometimes occupation of a victim based on their bones. For the skeletons of Herculaneum social class could be determined by the amount of wear on the bones, diet and the amount of jewellery found on or around them.
Conclusion
The skeletons at Herculaneum provide valuable insight to Roman social life which makes the eruption of Mt Vesuvius significant. The skeletons found along the beach and in the boat arcades are the largest collection to be found as Romans generally cremated their dead[3]. The preservation of the skeleton allows for tests to be carried out on them that can provide details of what the people ate, the diseases they had and the general details of the population as a whole, which gives insight to the amount of issues they had compared to today, for example obesity was a much of an issue then as it is now[4]. Because some of the skulls were broken we can understand how different temperatures affects us and tell us what would happen if a disaster like this ever happened again. DNA analysis can show us the consequences- good and bad, of living in Ancient Rome. The eruption is significant because of the degree at which it preserved the skeletons which allowed an in depth, detailed analysis of the bones to be carried out.
[1]- The Secrets of Vesuvius
[2]- Bodies from the Ash
[3]- webesite- vesuviusandpompeii
[4]- website- mariamalina