Oplontis study reveals more victims and grain‑based diet from 79 AD eruption

A bioarchaeological investigation of human remains recovered from the so‑called “Villa B” at Oplontis has shown that the number of people who perished in the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius was higher than previously estimated. The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, combined a reassessment of the archaeological context with isotopic analyses of the skeletons.

The isotopic data indicate that the victims’ diet was dominated by terrestrial resources – chiefly cereals such as wheat and barley, legumes and other cultivated plants, supplemented by animal protein from meat and dairy. Marine foods played only a minor role despite Oplontis’ coastal location. Gender‑related dietary differences were minimal, though the study also identified variations in the feeding of domesticated animals. The work was carried out by the Laboratory of Applied Research of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii together with the Distabbif of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, commented that the findings confirm the population’s reliance on daily bread and cereals.