Why are Roman tombs buried with

Archaeologists have found a solution to the scraps of animal bones, coal, pottery and other architectural materials like bricks that appear along the graves of Pompeii, a buried Roman city. buried by a volcanic eruption in 79.

In the past, in order to explain the occurrence of these pieces of rubbish with the dead at tombs, archaeologists have hypothesized that, 15 years before the eruption of Vesuvius volcano, one battle Earthquakes have ravaged Pompeii into ruins.

The grave of Pompeii is accompanied by household materials
by burying the dead in the city ( Photo: Livescience)

However, archaeological evidence from the past 15 years shows that the city may not be destroyed by the earthquake in 62, citizens rebuilt public space and houses here. When volcanic eruptions buried the city, new tombs are still under construction and the city is prospering, said Emmerson, a Roman archaeologist at the University of Cincinnati.

In fact, the graves are not the only place with debris on them, excavators also find the same type of household waste on the street, along the walls of the city, even on the floor. When excavating a house, Emmerson also discovered a water tank storing water between two pits containing ceramic fragments, food such as animal bones, grape seeds and olives. Show it like a cafeteria.

Along with that is the custom of the residents of Pompeii and the Romans, who are often concerned about their lives after death, so they often bury graves in areas with heavy commuters. Since Roman law and cemeteries forbid tombs in the city, the graves moved outside the city wall. So the graves above are accompanied by furniture and architectural debris and food.

Emmerson is expected to present his work, explaining how the Pompeii tombs reflected the culture at that time, on Saturday (January 7, 2012) at the annual meeting. of the American Archaeological Institute in Philadelphia.