Latest discoveries in Pompeii

To say that Pompeii never ceases to amaze is now commonplace, but it corresponds exactly to reality.

Pompeii is an inexhaustible source of history and discoveries that fascinate and impress. Finding new finds after two thousand years surprises and excites everyone, even the archaeologists themselves, who find themselves unearthing new details of ancient Pompeii.

Excavation work that has been going on incessantly for years and has allowed exceptional works to be recovered.

Discoveries and finds that will not stop and will bring to light new details of the inhabitants of ancient Pompeii.

So if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest discoveries in Pompeii, follow our guide!

Last discovery in Pompeii: June 27, 2023

In Regius IX, insula 10, a wonderful fresco on the wall of an ancient house resurfaces; this is the latest discovery in Pompeii.

It is a painting depicting a tray, on which rests a goblet of wine and a focaccia ( not a pizza as assumed by many) topped with pomegranates, spices and probably dates. Also on the same tray are dried fruits, a garland of yellow strawberry trees, dates and pomegranates.

The flat, round-shaped flatbread resembles the modern Neapolitan pizza. But this hypothesis is to be ruled out, as, 2,000 years ago, many ingredients necessary for making real pizza were missing.

May 17, 2023, two skeletons found in the chaste lovers’ insula

The findings in Pompeii never run out! One of the latest discoveries has confirmed the hypothesis that the ancient Pompeians died not only from falling lapilli and pyroclastic flows. But also due to an earthquake concomitant with the eruption of October 24, 79 AD.

During safety work, two skeletons, of two men about 55 years old, were found in the insula of the Casti Amanti in Pompeii. They died as a result of a wall collapse during the earthquake.

The bodies were found with their legs curled up and their shoulders raised, probably to shelter from falling rubble. One of the two bodies around his neck wore a cloth bundle with glass paste elements inside, probably necklace vague and six coins.

Cups and crockery in the Villa of Civita Giuliana

Major excavation work has uncovered interesting new finds from ancient Pompeii in the section of Via Civita Giuliana. This area had been undergoing excavation work for some time. In fact, a number of valuable objects had resurfaced, including the ceremonial Parade chariot and the Scavi room.

After a momentary interruption, work has once again resumed, necessary to remove these artifacts from the thefts of grave robbers. In the area there are numerous burrows dug deep by the latter to plunder the park from its precious objects. This time to put an end to the thefts, a section of modern city road was also closed in order to recover all the artifacts in the area.

The excavation carried out in March 2023, unearthed new cups and crockery, found in an upside-down position along the walls of a servile room.

But not only that, in the same period, a mosaic floor also resurfaced at the Stabian baths present along Via dell’Abbondanza, near the Lupanare alley. This is a large hall with a white mosaic floor bordered with a black band. On the threshold, however, the mosaic is in geometric patterns with white, black and green tiles. Excavation work continues unceasingly in this area as well.

We await, therefore, numerous other discoveries in Pompeii!

The cupboard with plates, vases and glass objects in August 2022

In Pompeii, the latest wonderful discovery has unearthed a small house that probably belonged to a middle-class family in Pompeii. The dwelling had four rooms, two on the lower floor and two on the upper floor.

The discovery was made on the north side of Regio V, next to the sumptuous lararium found in 2018.

In one room it was possible to make a cast of a wooden cupboard with four doors, probably a sideboard, 2 metres high and equipped with five shelves with vases, plates and glass objects inside. The cabinet probably collapsed when the upper floor of the house collapsed.

An undecorated, very simple bed, of which the volume of the pillow and the weave of the fabric is still visible, was found in the bedroom.

Next to the bed a three-footed circular table with a ceramic bowl, a glass saucer and another sealed on top. As well as a wooden trunk left open, probably during the escape.

While on the upper floor of the same house, documents were found transcribed on wax tablets of which a cast was made.

Discovery in Pompeii: the turtle with its egg in June 2022

A tortoise with its head, tail and one leg completely intact and its egg never laid, is found in June 2022.

The discovery took place at a workshop in Via dell’Abbondanza, where major excavation work was being carried out. After the discovery of some remains of a very luxurious house, comparable to that of the Villa of the Mysteries and the House of Ceres.

It was assumed that the tortoise took refuge in the workshop to lay its egg, but never succeeded following the eruption of Vesuvius, which resulted in its death.

In the same area, archaeologists have managed to unearth not only the turtle but also the beautiful mosaic floors and decorations of the luxurious villa, a terracotta mask, some exceptional pieces of wall paintings and a painted shell. Exceptional discoveries that demonstrate the richness and beauty of Pompeii.

Discoveries in Pompeii: the Slave Room in November 2021

In November 2021, the Room of the Slaves was discovered in the Villa of Civita Giuliana in Pompeii. A room that allows us to reconstruct and understand the life and social classes of ancient Pompeii.

Most probably used by a family of slaves, hence the name of the room, who worked inside the villa.

This hypothesis was formulated due to the characteristics of the room, which was small, cramped, with only one window at the top that illuminated the room and no decorations on the walls.

The Slave Room was found in perfect condition and was probably used both as a storage room for amphorae and as a bedroom for a small family.

The idea that it would be a bedroom that housed a family came about after three wooden beds were found in the room. Two were 1.70 metres long and one 1.40 metres long, probably used by a child, which could be mounted depending on the height of the person using them.

Also recovered during the excavations were the ropes that made up the net of the wooden beds, fabric blankets reconstructed using the cast method, amphorae, jugs and the helm of a chariot resting on a bed.

Ceremional chariot , January 2021

In the villa of Civita Giuliana in Pompeii, a wooden ceremonial chariot with four wheels was discovered inside a two-level portico.

The chariot consisting of a small caisson measuring 0.90 x 1.40 m, on which the seat was placed, was most probably used for ceremonies and parades.

The caisson is decorated on the sides with carved bronze plates in which there are small bronze medallions depicting cupids.

While at the back, the caisson is decorated with bronze and tin medallions depicting erotic scenes.