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<a href = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2018/5bbddf8c990be.jpg" title = "Thermal Effects on the Skeletons of Human Victims A. Skull. an old male, adult male with tinted and cracked dark-colored parietal bone (ind 11, chamber 12) B. The skull cap presents a "star-shaped" fracture consisting of several fissures radiating from a common center, characterized carbonized outer margins 31, chamber 10) C. Scattered skull showing a partially stained inner table (right side, adult male, ind., 6, chamber 12): carbonization of fractured margins (white arrows) (scale of bar 10 cm) The skull of this victim lay in the ash bed on the left side. PLOS ONE (2018). DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0203210 ">
Thermal effects on the skeletons of human victims. A. Skull of an older adult male with dark and cracked parietal bone (ind 11, chamber 12). B. Skull affected by a "starry" fracture consisting of several fissures radiating from a common center, characterized by charred outer margins (adult male, ind. 31, chamber 10). C. Scattered skull showing a partially stained inner table (right side, adult male, item 6, chamber 12); Carbonization of fractured margins is evident (white arrows) (bar scale 10 cm). The skull of this victim lay in the ash bed on the left side. Credit: PLOS ONE (2018). DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0203210
A team of researchers from Federico II University Hospital in Italy discovered evidence suggesting that many people living in Herculaneum during the eruption of Mt. 79. Vesuvius was killed by the extreme heat characteristic pyroclastic flows. In their article published on the site in free access PLOS ONE, the group describes the warning signs of the heat damage they found in the remains of people residing in the ancient Roman city at the time.
Most people have learned in elementary school that Mount. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and covered cities such as Pompeii in ashes. The disaster was so sudden that many people were killed and buried in the ashes, leaving their "frozen" remains to be discovered by archaeologists about 1700 years later. Extensive research has shown that most of the victims in Pompeii died from injuries or suffocation caused by thick ash. But it was not the fate of many people living in the nearby town of Herculaneum. The researchers of this new effort found that many of them had been killed by the extreme heat of the pyroclastic flows.
Pyroclastic flows are flows composed of gases and volcanic materials (previous research has shown that they can flow downstream from an eruption at a maximum speed of 450 mph) and that temperatures reach 1000 degrees Celsius. flow, the result is instant death. The researchers found traces in the remains of many people who had taken refuge in a boathouse located near the sea at Herculaneum. The team began their investigation after learning that people were dying of thermal shock.
After a closer look at some of the remains, the researchers found red and black residue on parts of some bones. Previous research has suggested that this residue usually occurs when bones are burned near coins or other metal objects – the residue usually consists of iron particles. Previous research has also shown that such residues can also be caused by boiling blood leaving behind iron in suspension. The residue study showed that it was iron, although the researchers could not say with certainty whether it came from objects of blood or metals. The researchers also found evidence of exploded skulls, probably due to the vaporization of brain matter.
<a href = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2018/5bbddfade7a05.jpg" title = "Inlays of red and black minerals have been detected in the skulls of the victims. A. Child's skull showing a round area of thick red mineral residues encrusting the right parietal bone (ind 18, chamber 12); A1. Internal bone surface of parietal fragments embedded in residues red minerals (sporadic skull fragments, adult, chamber 10), B. skull showing dark spots and black residues encrusting (white arrow) parietal and temporal bones (B1) (adult male, ind., 31, chamber 10) C. Skullcap of a young individual with mottled dark spotted areas and carbonized open sutures (black arrows) (ind 29, chamber 12) The intracranial cavity (C1) shows a sharp border (black and white arrows ) between an unchanged internal table (a) and another stained black (b) ( graduations in centimeters)). PLOS ONE (2018). DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0203210 ">
Inlays of red and black minerals were detected in the skull of the victims. A. The skull of the child shows a round area of thick red mineral residues encrusting the right parietal bone (ind 18, chamber 12); A1. Internal bone surface of parietal fragments encrusted with red mineral residues (sporadic skull fragments, adult, chamber 10); B. Skull with dark staining and black residues encrusting (white arrow) parietal and temporal bones (B1) (adult male, ind., 31, chamber 10); C. Skullcap of a young individual with spotted dark spots and open carbonized sutures (black arrows) (ind 29, chamber 12). The intracranial cavity (C1) shows a clear border (black and white arrows) between an unchanged interior color chart (a) and a stained black color (b) (scale bars in cm). Credit: PLOS ONE (2018). DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0203210
Explore further:
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More information:
Pierpaolo Petrone et al. A hypothesis of sudden vaporization of body fluid in the 79 victims of Vesuvius, PLOS ONE (2018). DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0203210
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