DNA research from Pompeii reveals ancestry and challenges family beliefs.

A recent DNA analysis by researchers from the University of Florence, Harvard University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has provided new insight into the lives of Pompeii’s ancient population. This genetic study revises the assumptions that have shaped historical understanding since the city’s discovery in 1748. The findings indicate a complex social and cultural diversity among its people, previously inferred only through visual evidence.

A new perspective on the social ties and origins of Pompeii

In 79 AD, the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, enveloping the population in layers of ash. Traditional interpretations, based largely on skeletal positions and artifacts such as jewelry, suggested specific gender roles and family structures among the victims. However, DNA samples recently extracted from 14 restored skeletal remains reveal a different story. According to Professor David Caramelli, department of anthropology at the University of Florence, genetic data offers surprising variations in kinship and gender, challenging previous inferences based solely on physical characteristics.

Analysis of casts, including a group from the famed House of the Golden Bracelet, showed that what were once considered parent-child groups were in fact unrelated individuals. Additional findings reported by David Reich of Harvard University highlighted that several individuals previously identified as close relatives or believed to have genetic ties actually had no biological relationship. Gender assumptions were also questioned as certain artifacts traditionally associated with women were found in men.

Pompeii’s diverse genetic heritage revealed

The DNA research further underlined Pompeii’s cosmopolitan roots. Evidence of the ancestry of many eastern Mediterranean residents suggests that the city’s population was likely immigrants, reflecting the cultural and genetic diversity within the Roman Empire. Alissa Mittnik, representative of the Max Planck Institute, noted that the study illustrates the benefits of merging genetic and archaeological data to avoid projecting modern assumptions onto historical interpretations.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of Pompeii Park, stated that the integration of DNA analysis has been crucial in expanding the park’s research capabilities. With the addition of studies in isotope analysis and bioarchaeology, the park is evolving into an interdisciplinary research center, advancing the field of archeology through modern technology.