Ancient DNA reveals genetic relationships between Pompeii victims

Nov. 7 () –

Ancient DNA collected from the famous casts of charred bodies in the ruins of Pompeii by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD offers different stories than those assumed about the victims.

As reported on November 7, 2024 in Current BiologyDNA evidence shows that individuals’ sexes and family relationships do not match traditional interpretations that they had been formulated largely on the basis of modern assumptions.

“The scientific data we provide does not always match common assumptions,” says David Reich of Harvard University. “For example, a notable example is the discovery that an adult wearing a gold bracelet and holding a child, traditionally interpreted as mother and child, was an unrelated adult man and child. Similarly, it was discovered that a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, included at least one genetic male. “These findings challenge traditional assumptions about gender and family.”

The study team, which included Alissa Mittnik, also of Harvard University, and David Caramelli of the University of Florence, had heard the stories of Pompeii. They realized that the ancient DNA and strontium isotopes used to date the samples could help them better understand the diversity and origins of Pompeii’s residents. They extracted DNA from highly fragmented skeletal remains mixed with plaster casts, focusing on 14 of the 86 casts that are being restored.

Investigators’ goal was to learn as much as possible from the DNA evidence about these 14 victims. Their approach allowed them to precisely determine the genetic relationships, sex and ancestry of those 14 individuals.. What they discovered was in stark contrast to long-held assumptions based solely on the physical appearance and position of the casts.

The genetic data offered insight into the ancestry of the Pompeians, revealing that they had diverse genomic backgrounds. They were mainly descended from recent immigrants from the eastern Mediterranean. The discovery highlights the cosmopolitan nature of the Roman Empireaccording to the researchers.

“Our findings have significant implications for the interpretation of archaeological data and the understanding of ancient societies,” says Mittnik. “It highlights the importance of integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical information to avoid misinterpretations based on modern assumptions. This study also underlines the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of the population of Pompeii, “reflecting broader patterns of mobility and cultural exchange in the Roman Empire.”

The findings highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach that includes genetic analysis to fully understand the past of Pompeii and beyond, the researchers say.

“This study illustrates how unreliable narratives based on limited evidence can be, which often reflect the worldview of the researchers at the time“says Caramelli.