{"id":2379,"date":"2026-05-20T09:24:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T09:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2379"},"modified":"2026-05-20T09:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T09:24:16","slug":"major-new-pompeii-discovery-as-unexpected-item-found-on-victim-of-mount-vesuvius-eruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2379","title":{"rendered":"Major new Pompeii discovery as unexpected item found on victim of Mount Vesuvius eruption"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_93f611\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Archaeologists have made several extraordinary discoveries while carrying out a routine restoration on a cast located at Pompeii&#8217;s infamous Garden of the Fugitives<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">09:56, 20 May 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 09:56, 20 May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37180408\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"plaster cast\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180408.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180408.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180408.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180408.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The man was discovered to be a doctor \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The man was discovered to be a doctor <cite aria-label=\"Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A doomed doctor may have spent his final moments trying to outrun the destruction of Pompeii in 79 CE, while desperately clutching his medical kit after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Archaeologists investigating the infamous Garden of the Fugitives have uncovered evidence suggesting that one of the victims preserved in the <a aria-label=\"volcanic ashLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/incredible-ai-reconstruction-pompeii-victims-37096578\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">volcanic ash<\/a> was a medic, after identifying surgical tools, coins and medicine-making equipment in his vicinity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Experts from the <a aria-label=\"Pompeii Archaeological ParkLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/pompeii-victim-flees-mount-vesuvius-37080615\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Pompeii Archaeological Park<\/a> made the haunting discovery while carrying out restoration work on one of Pompeii\u2019s most famous plaster casts, known only as Victim 46, whose body was found crumpled next to another victim in the final positions they died in as the Roman city was engulfed.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37180413\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37180413\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.33\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\" an 'assemblage' containing medical tools\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180413.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180413.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180413.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180413.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The archaeologists found an 'assemblage' containing medical tools\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The archaeologists found an &#8216;assemblage&#8217; containing medical tools<cite aria-label=\"Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">During the restoration, it was found that the cast concealed \u201ca small personal assemblage\u201d that had been concealed within the plaster for centuries. And what they found stunned researchers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Buried within the victim\u2019s remains was a small rectangular case containing medical instruments, including scalpel blades and a stone tablet used for grinding medicinal powders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The report said: &#8220;The small rectangular case measured just 12.5cm by 5.2cm and was decorated with a thin bronze edge held together by tiny nails.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37180415\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37180415\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The box was also found to contain a small stone tablet  \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180415.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180415.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180415.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180415.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The box was also found to contain a small stone tablet  \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The box was also found to contain a small stone tablet  <cite aria-label=\"Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The surface of the object had grooved markings, suggesting it had been carefully crafted by hand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The box looked similar to Roman-era cosmetic and medical containers with sliding lids. Inside, archaeologists discovered a coticula &#8211; a small stone tablet with a dip in the middle that was used to grind and mix medicines or cosmetic powders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe richness of the identified elements strongly supports the archaeological hypothesis that the subject was linked to medical practice,\u201d the report concluded.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37180420\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37180420\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"pompeii plaster casts\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180420.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180420.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180420.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article37180420.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Around 2000 people were killed after Mount Vesuvius erupted in Pompeii\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Around 2000 people were killed after Mount Vesuvius erupted in Pompeii<cite aria-label=\"Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: The Archaeological Park of Pompeii\u00c2\u00a0\/Cover Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The doomed doc had also carried a cloth purse stuffed full of silver and bronze coins, perhaps hoping that money would be able to somehow buy him safety as panic spread through the city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Garden of the Fugitives remains one of Pompeii\u2019s most horrifying locations, where the plaster casts of men, women and children still lie where they collapsed while attempting to flee. Researchers described the victims as \u201cbodies caught in the act of flight\u201d with \u201cfaces impressed in plaster like photographs of an eternal instant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">High-tech CT scans later revealed one more eerie detail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Medics at the Maria Rosaria Clinic discovered the box contained \u201ca refined gear-and-knob mechanism\u201d designed to tightly seal its contents. The scans also uncovered at least six hidden metal objects that are still trapped inside the cast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our <\/em><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>newsletters<\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archaeologists have made several extraordinary discoveries while carrying out a routine restoration on a cast&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg",1200,675,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-768x432.jpg",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-1024x576.jpg",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg",1200,675,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption.jpg",1200,675,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-1115x675.jpg",1115,675,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Pompeii-victim-identified-as-Roman-doctor-helping-others-during-Vesuvius-eruption-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?cat=7\" rel=\"category\">Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Stories","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2379\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}