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ANSA
Japan team finds 2 chained human remains in Pompei ruins
November 28th, 2002
ROME — A team of Japanese archaeologists on Tuesday found the remains of two chained human bodies, apparently slaves, at the Pompei ruins in southern Italy.
The well-preserved skeletons were found outside a castle wall in the northern edge of the ruins, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.
One set of skeletons has chains still attached to a leg, and the other has a metal buckle around the waist. The researchers believe the buckle is part of a belt, possibly worn by a woman slave.
The two were apparently killed while trying to escape from the lava of Mt Vesuvius, which erupted in 79 A.D. and buried the region.
Pompei was a thriving city and home to 200,000 people before Mt. Vesuvius blew its top.
The ruins of Pompei covers an area of 640,000 square meters. Excavation began in the mid-18th century, and one third of the area still remains untouched.
The Japanese team has been participating in the excavation of Pompei ruins since 1994.
Original ANSA news (in
italian)
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