TY - JOUR
T1 - A re-evaluation of manner of death at Roman Herculaneum following the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius
AU - Martyn, Rachelle
AU - Craig , Oliver E.
AU - Ellingham, Sarah
AU - Islam, Meez
AU - Fattore, Luciano
AU - Sperduti , Alessandra
AU - Bondioli , Luca
AU - Thompson, Tim
PY - 2020/1/23
Y1 - 2020/1/23
N2 - Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Herculaneum is one of the world's most famous Roman settlements. Exactly how the victims died during the eruption, however, remains unclear. The authors address this issue by examining changes in bone apatite structure and collagen preservation, combined with collagen extraction. Results suggest that the prolonged presence of soft tissue, as well as the stone chambers in which inhabitants had sought shelter, acted as thermal buffers that minimised the heat-induced degradation of skeletal tissues. The results have implications for the interpretation of large residential sites and for contexts where heating and burning is associated with buildings.
AB - Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Herculaneum is one of the world's most famous Roman settlements. Exactly how the victims died during the eruption, however, remains unclear. The authors address this issue by examining changes in bone apatite structure and collagen preservation, combined with collagen extraction. Results suggest that the prolonged presence of soft tissue, as well as the stone chambers in which inhabitants had sought shelter, acted as thermal buffers that minimised the heat-induced degradation of skeletal tissues. The results have implications for the interpretation of large residential sites and for contexts where heating and burning is associated with buildings.
U2 - 10.15184/aqy.2019.215
DO - 10.15184/aqy.2019.215
M3 - Article
SN - 0003-598X
VL - 94
SP - 76
EP - 91
JO - Antiquity
JF - Antiquity
IS - 373
ER -
