The Preservation Mystery at Pompeii: Why Only Certain Human Remains are Considered Fossils

At Pompeii, the ancient city buried under volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the preservation of human and animal remains presents a fascinating mystery. While some remains are meticulously preserved as detailed fossils, others are crushed, pulverized, or simply decayed away. This article delves into why certain human remains in Pompeii are considered fossils, despite being buried under volcanic ash like other organisms during the eruption.

Understanding Fossilization at Pompeii

Everything you consider as a fossil has been preserved. However, many other fossils of animals and other organisms in Pompeii are intact, while the remains of humans and animals were either crushed beyond recognition or pulverized. This discrepancy has puzzled scientists for centuries.

The truth is, the preservation of bodies buried under volcanic ash is far from straightforward. The fine grained volcanic ash, while seemingly light and delicate, was incredibly heavy. The weight of the ash compressed around these remains, often burying them feet or even meters deep. Over centuries, nature took its course, and the bodies began to decay. The highly acidic nature of the ash even dissolved most of the bones, leaving behind only fragments and teeth.

Archaeological Discoveries at the Site

Saying that there are preserved bodies at Pompeii is stretching the facts to the breaking point. In reality, it was the voids left by decomposed human and animal carcasses that were of true significance. It was only in the early 1860s that archaeologists working at Pompeii began to notice these voids.

Archaeologists came up with a creative solution. They poured plaster into the voids before excavation, creating detailed positive casts of some of Vesuvius' victims. This technique allowed them to capture the shape and position of the bodies in the ash, providing a remarkable glimpse into the city's final moments.

The casts, however, are not abundant. Only a limited number were successfully recovered, as not all voids held up for 1800 years. Some were destroyed due to careless excavation before their significance was realized. Additionally, not every victim was buried to the "correct depth." If too shallow, the necessary compaction did not occur, while if too deep, the void collapsed under the weight of the overburden.

What Remains at Pompeii?

The only actual body remnants recovered at Pompeii consist of bone fragments and teeth. These represent what one might expect to remain from a colossally violent event 18 centuries ago. The majority of the human remains are not complete bodies but rather fragmented remains, some barely recognizably human.

This raises the significant question of what determines the preservation of certain fossils over others. It appears that the depth of burial, the angle and pressure of the ash deposition, and the subsequent environmental conditions play crucial roles. Those remains buried in compacted, waterproof ash layers have a better chance of fossilization, while those in more loosely compacted layers or under significant pressure are more prone to collapse and decay.

Conclusion

At Pompeii, the factors that determine the preservation of human remains as fossils are complex and often unpredictable. The fine-grained volcanic ash buried the city, but not all remains were equally preserved. The study of these preserved bodies and their casts continues to offer unique insights into the lives and deaths of ancient Pompeians, but also challenges our understanding of the fossilization process.

Keywords: pompeii, fossil, volcanic ash