Earth Science News
SHAKE AND BLOW
Earthquakes, not just volcanic ash, a Pompeii killer: research
Earthquakes, not just volcanic ash, a Pompeii killer: research
by AFP Staff Writers
Rome (AFP) July 18, 2024

Victims who perished in Pompeii after the devastating 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius may have been killed by a simultaneous earthquake, according to new research published on Thursday.

Scholars have debated for decades whether seismic activity occurred during the eruption of Vesuvius in southern Italy nearly 2,000 years ago, and not just before it, as reported by Pliny the Younger, an author and administrator in Ancient Rome, in his letters.

The article published on Thursday in the academic journal "Frontiers in Earth Science" takes a new look at the now world-famous archaeological site, arguing that one or more concurrent earthquakes were "a contributing cause of building collapse and death of the inhabitants".

"Our conclusions suggest that the effects of the collapse of buildings triggered by syn-eruptive seismicity (seismic activity at the time of an eruption) should be regarded as an additional cause of death in the ancient Pompeii," it said.

Archaeologists estimate that 15 to 20 percent of Pompeii's population died in the eruption, mostly from thermal shock as a giant cloud of gases and ash covered the city.

Volcanic ash then buried the Roman city, perfectly preserving the homes, public buildings, objects and even the people until its discovery in the late 16th century.

In May 2023, archaeologists uncovered the skeletons of two men who appeared to have been killed not by heat and clouds of fiery gas and ash but from trauma due to collapsed walls -- providing precious new data.

One of the victims was discovered with his left hand raised, as if to protect his head.

"It is worth noting that such traumas are analogous to those of individuals involved in modern earthquakes," wrote the authors, who determined that the collapsed walls were not due to falling stones and debris but to seismic activity.

"In a broader view that takes into account the whole city, we consider, as a working hypothesis, that the casualties caused by seismically triggered building failures may not be limited to the two individuals," the authors wrote.

The intersection of phenomena from both volcanic and seismic activity requires a multidisciplinary approach, the study argues, with the collaboration of both archaeologists and earth scientists.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SHAKE AND BLOW
Ecuador volcano rumbles, spews ash cloud
Quito (AFP) July 10, 2024
A volcano in central Ecuador spewed a cloud of ash Wednesday that fell on four towns as residents reported hearing rumblings and loud bangs. The Sangay volcano, some 195 kilometers (120 miles) from the capital Quito, has been in a state of near-constant, mainly low-level activity since 1628, according to the Geophysical Institute. In 2021, ashfall from the 5,230-meter (some 17,300-foot) volcano destroyed about 43,000 hectares (over 160,000 acres) of crops, affecting 330,000 people, according to ... read more

SHAKE AND BLOW
Trillions Lost in Worker Productivity Due to Eco Anxiety and Lifestyle Changes

Macron and Starmer reaffirm cooperation on migrants

200 more Kenyan police deploy to tackle Haiti violence

Nepal retrieves more bodies from buses swept away by landslide

SHAKE AND BLOW
India's Infosys beats profit estimates as client spending rises

Caught in the actinium

Spain's Aragon, Europe's new cloud storage oasis

EU, Serbia set to ink 'critical raw materials' deal

SHAKE AND BLOW
Gaza city says water treatment stops, 700,000 face health 'crisis'

Mexico tries to bring drought-stricken lake back to life

Iraqis protest over summer blackouts and water shortages

UK village fights to turn back tide of climate change

SHAKE AND BLOW
Waning Sea Ice Reflectivity Intensifies Global Warming

US, Finland, Canada join forces on icebreaker ships

Dubai rowers to brave Arctic to highlight plastics pollution

Tourists seek out Nordic holidays to keep cool

SHAKE AND BLOW
Snakes on a plate: pythons touted as protein alternative

French police clash with water demonstrators after port blockade

Insect infestation ravages North African prickly pear

Climate change threatens age-old Mauritania date harvest

SHAKE AND BLOW
Flash floods across China kill at least 20, dozens missing

Earthquakes, not just volcanic ash, a Pompeii killer: research

7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Chile: USGS

Niger floods toll increases, 53 dead, 18,000 affected: UN

SHAKE AND BLOW
Burkina MSF office targeted in 'armed attack': statement

Turkish delegation visits Niger to boost military ties

Five things to know about Turkey's interests in Africa

Germany says not possible to continue military cooperation with Niger

SHAKE AND BLOW
Evidence Points to Human Butchery of Giant Armadillo Relatives in Argentina 21,000 Years Ago

Tense talks as UNESCO mulls Heritage sites at risk

First suicide pod use 'soon' in Switzerland: campaigners

UN says world population to peak at 10.3 billion in the 2080s

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.