Cursed pair of man and woman clutched coins, jewellery when death came to them in Pompeii

In the doomed ancient city of Pompeii, researchers discovered two skeletons that helped them reconstruct the final moments of people before they died in the eruption of Vesuviusin 79 CE.

The skeleton has been identified as belonging to a cursed pair of young man and a middle-aged woman who were likely trapped in the room where they had hidden and eventually were killed in the current of scorching volcanic gases.

The archaeologistsfound multiple valuable items along with the female corpse,includinga collection of coins and precious earrings, which hinted that the woman was likely to have collected her prized possessions while hoping to survive the disaster.

The archaeologists discovered the two skeletons while carrying out excavations in aPompeiicity block called Regio IX. The duo are suspected to have died in a room designated "Area 33".

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The woman was estimated to have been between 35 and 45 years of age and was discovered lying in the fetal position on a bed while the young man, who was likely to be no older than 20, died after crumbling beneath a wall which collapsed.

Researchers analyse how ill-fated duo got trapped in their rescue abode

The researchers said that since the room was not invaded with pumice, the pair is likely to have sought refuge there from lava which battered the open spaces of Pompeii after the eruption.

But when pumice filled the adjacent room, the two people finally got trapped.

The woman's skeleton was discovered clutching a small cache of gold, silver and bronze coins, along with gold and pearl earrings.

“The room was chosen as a refuge by the two people, while waiting for the end of the fall of pumice that had been gradually filling the open spaces for hours in the rest of the house,” said the archaeologists, in a statement.

Since the door of the room was closed, the room was free of pumice, however, the couple remained trapped.

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“Trapped in the cramped little room, their deaths were caused by the pyroclastic flow that buried them,” they added.

“The opportunity to analyze the invaluable anthropological data relating to the two victims found within the archaeological context that marked their tragic end, allows us to recover a considerable amount of information about the daily life of the ancient Pompeiians and the micro-histories of some of them, with precise and timely documentation, confirming the uniqueness of the Vesuvian territory,” explained Pompeii Archaeological Park's director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

He stated that the excavations were “a work in which archaeologists, anthropologists and volcanologists work together to reconstruct the last moments of the lives of men, women and children who perished during one of the greatest natural catastrophes of antiquity.”

(With inputs from agencies)