sciencetech-blog

comments

Terrified Romans living in the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum saw 'sheets of fire and leaping flames' as they ran through dark streets carrying torches with pumice stone raining down upon them.

The description was penned in a letter by a Roman named Pliny the younger who watched from a safe distance to describe the panic on the fateful day of August 24 in 79AD, which was immortalised beneath ash spewed from erupting volcano.

Now, French and Italian archaeologists excavating areas of the ancient town of Pompeii have discovered raw clay vases that appear to have been dropped by Roman potters fleeing the disaster.

French and Italian archaeologists excavating areas of the ancient town of Pompeii have discovered raw clay vases (pictured) that appear to have been dropped by Roman potters fleeing the disaster

The 10 pots, which were found sealed beneath a later of ash and pumice, appear to have been ready to be fired, Discovery News reported. 

It looks as if they were dropped as frightened potters saw the smoke and smelt the sulphurous fumes that would have been spewed out by the volcano - and decided to make a run for it.

Historical accounts and archaeological evidence show that many Pompeians took to the streets in a bid to leave the city, braving hot ash and pumice stones ejected from Vesuvius, with some collapsing from inhaling poisonous fumes.

The 10 pots, which were found sealed beneath a later of ash and pumice, appear to have been ready to be fired. This sketch shows the patternation applied by the potters before they fled their workshop

Roman writer, Pliny the younger, described the panic during the eruption of Mount Vessuvius. Terrified Romans (illustrated) living in the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum saw 'sheets of fire and leaping flames' as they ran through dark streets carrying torches with pumice stone raining down upon them, he said

The scene at the pottery, with its abandoned kilns, reveals a terrifying moment frozen in time when the potters decided to evacuate. One of the kilns (pictured left) and a reconstructed broken vase (right) are shown

The pottery was discovered in an area of the town outside its Herculaneum Gate and comprises three rooms housing two large kilns. 

The scene at the workshop, with its abandoned kilns, reveals a terrifying moment frozen in time when the potters decided to evacuate.

Dig director Laëtitia Cavassa, from the Jean Bérard Centre, said: 'They abandoned the workshop and everything they were doing at that moment.' 

The pottery was discovered in an area of the town outside its Herculaneum Gate and comprises three rooms housing two large kilns. This image shows its floor and the location of smashed raw pottery

Mount Vessuvus erupted (illustrated) on August 24 in 79AD, and the tragic events are immortalised beneath ash spewed from erupting volcano. People tried to flee the town, but many were buried by ash and pumice

Archaeologists found pottery wheels as well as the tools needed to create the elaborate patterns and textures on the pots and vases. A floor showing the location of posts is pictured

Archaeologists found pottery wheels as well as the tools needed to create the elaborate patterns and textures on the pots and vases.

They believe that the 10 smashed vessels discovered were intended to be used to hold water and wine.

Dr Cavassa said: 'They are really unique items. The potters made them with clay, embellished them with decorations, and were ready to place them into the kiln when the Vesuvius erupted.'

She explained that the vases are evidence that the workshop was active at the moment of the famous eruption.

The city of Pompeii (pictured) is an invaluable resource to historians because so many tiny details of daily life, from food to objects in houses, were preserved by hot ash when Mount Vesuvius destroyed the city