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One of the petrified remains of a victim of the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 BC.
An inscription recently discovered in Pompeii proves that the city was destroyed by Vesuvius after October 17, 79 AD and not August 24 as previously thought, said archaeologists Tuesday.
Archaeologists have recently discovered that a worker had inscribed the date of "16th day before the beginning of November", that is to say on October 17th, in a house in Pompeii, said at the Italian press the head of archeology site, Massimo Osanna.
Pompeii and Herculaneum would have already been destroyed during the massive eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, based on contemporary writings and archaeological finds.
Nevertheless, evidence such as autumn fruits on branches found in ash ruins had suggested a date after the 19th century, Osanna said.
"Today, with much humility, we may rewrite the history books because we will date the eruption to the second half of October," said the Italian Minister of Culture, Alberto Bonisoli.
Pompeii is Italy's second most visited tourist site, after the Colosseum of Rome, with more than three million visitors in the first eight months of this year.
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