Archeaology: Pompeii happened more than once

[Madame Butterfly 0]

Pompei discovery for Swedish archeologists

(AFP) Swedish archeologists have discovered a Stone Age settlement covered in ash under the ruins of the ancient city of Pompei, indicating that the volcano Vesuvius engulfed the area in lava more than 3,500 years before the famous 79 AD eruption.

 

The archeologists recently found burnt wood and grains of emmer wheat in the earth under Pompei, Anne-Marie Leander Touati, a professor of archeology at Stockholm University who led the team, told AFP.

 

"Carbon dating shows that the finds are from prehistoric times, that is, from 3,500 years BC," Leander Touati said. It was until now believed that Pompei was first inhabited during the Bronze Age.

 

The group of archeologists - part of a larger international project - were mapping a Roman neighbourhood of Pompei when they made the discovery.

 

"It was a real fluke," Leander Touati said, explaining that the group was emptying a well to determine its use when it made the find.

 

"We realized that the well was a lot deeper than we thought, and we sent a guy down into the well. He moved some of the earth and suddenly he was in prehistoric times," she said.

 

The Stone Age remains were covered in a thick layer of ash. On top of that a a layer of ceramic shards was found, which according to Leander Touati could be from the Bronze Age. Additional geological layers lay on top of that, and on top of it all were the ruins of Pompei.

 

Pompei was covered in lava when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The excellently preserved ruins have become one of the world's most visited archaeological sites.

 

Leander Touati said her group was now planning the next step.

 

"We're going down there again," she said.

[trekz 7]

My first thought is: well well well. Sorry. I couldn't resist!

 

But seriously, this is very interesting. Perhaps other archaeologists should consider excavating into wells as a way to quickly go down through other layers to older more ancient layers. This article also begs the question, when will the next explosion of Vesuvius be, and will Pompeii be buried in lava again. If Pompeii was buried again, would it be reexcavated? Is there a way of protecting key sites in Pompeii against another volcanic erruption (I would assume not, but perhaps there is some new technology of which I am unaware.)

[Yillara Skye 1]

I am trying to remember, but I think during the show Pompeii: The Last Day...they had mentioned that the volcano had had more than one major eruption prior to the one in 79AD. I am wondering if the volcano erupted with the same pyroclastic blast that occurred in the 79AD eruption...same or at least similar degree.

 

Discovery channel-Pompeii The Last Day

[Odie 0]

Most like the question should be if Vesuvius should have an explosion it is when. As I know there is nothing that will protect the site from another explosion.