New DNA Analysis Challenges Long-Standing Assumptions About Pompeii Victims

A recent study reveals that DNA evidence contradicts previous interpretations of relationships among victims of the Pompeii volcanic eruption.

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Ancient DNA leads to surprising discovery about Pompeii’s victims

The Independent

Identity of casts of victims at Pompeii not all they seem, research suggests

The Guardian

New DNA evidence rewrites long-told stories of people in ancient Pompeii

Associated Press

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Research from Max Planck Institute and others reveals that previous interpretations of Pompeii's plaster casts were inaccurate, showing individuals once thought to be related were actually unrelated. The study highlights the diverse genetic backgrounds of Pompeii's inhabitants, suggesting a complex narrative of migration and encounter in ancient Rome. The findings call into question long-held notions about gender roles, familial ties, and the societal composition of this ancient city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

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