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The casts of Pompeii: Post-depositional methodological insights.
Llorenç Alapont1, Gianni Gallello1, Marcos Martinón-Torres2
1Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Plos One
|August 23, 2023
Summary
Investigating the Pompeii victims, this study used portable X-ray fluorescence on casts to analyze bone and plaster composition. Chemical data, combined with anthropology, suggests asphyxia as the likely cause of death despite post-depositional alterations.
Area of Science:
- Bioarchaeology
- Forensic Anthropology
- Material Science
Background:
- The Vesuvius 79 AD eruption tragically preserved victims in Pompeii.
- Previous studies on the cause of death for these individuals remain inconclusive.
- The impact of post-depositional processes and plaster on skeletal remains has not been fully evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct the first chemical analysis on Pompeii casts using portable X-ray fluorescence.
- To determine the elemental composition of bones and plaster within the casts.
- To reconstruct perimortem and post-mortem events by cross-referencing chemical data with anthropological and stratigraphic findings.
Main Methods:
- Anthropological analysis of six casts from Porta Nola and one from Terme Suburbane.
- Non-invasive chemical analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF).
- Comparative analysis with burned and buried bone collections from Pompeii, Rome, and Valencia.
Main Results:
- Elemental profiles of bones and plaster were successfully determined for the first time.
- High-temperature alteration and post-depositional plaster contamination were identified.
- These factors complicate bioarchaeological analyses but do not preclude interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Asphyxia is supported as the most probable cause of death for the studied Pompeii victims.
- The study highlights the challenges and potential of using pXRF in bioarchaeological research on ancient remains.
- Understanding post-depositional alterations is crucial for accurate interpretation of skeletal evidence from catastrophic events.
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