Pompeii Bodies & Plaster Casts: CT Scans, DNA & Full Archaeological Guide

The world-famous "bodies of Pompeii" are not petrified corpses, dried mummies, or carved statues. They are hollow plaster casts (calchi in gesso), created by injecting liquid plaster of Paris into the exact physical cavities left in solidified volcanic ash after the human flesh, organs, and clothing decayed away.

Since 1863, when Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli invented this revolutionary technique, a little over a hundred plaster casts (~104 cataloged in historical inventories) of human victims have been produced from the ruins. The Park notes that the skeletal remains of over one thousand victims have been documented across excavated sectors. These haunting figures capture individuals frozen in their final moments of agony—hands shielding faces, children sheltering against adults, and watchdogs contorted against falling debris.

Over the past decade, two cutting-edge scientific initiatives—The 2015 Pompeii Cast Project (utilizing multi-detector CT imaging) and the landmark November 2024 ancient DNA study published in Current Biology (Pilli et al., PMC11627482)—have fundamentally revolutionized our understanding of these casts. By looking inside the plaster, scientists have disproved Victorian gender assumptions, exposed 19th-century sculptural manipulations, and decoded the complex Mediterranean origins of Roman citizens.

This comprehensive guide details the forensic taphonomy of the 79 AD eruption, the step-by-step engineering of Fiorelli's casting method, the revolutionary findings of modern CT and genomic research, and the exact locations where visitors can view the casts respectfully today.

1. Quick Reference: Forensic & Epigraphic Facts

The following table summarizes the verified scientific data regarding the victims and casts of Pompeii:

2. Taphonomy of Disaster: How the Eruption Created the Voids

The creation of Pompeii's plaster casts was made possible by a unique, highly specific sequence of volcanic events that did not occur in neighboring Herculaneum or Stabiae.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                  THE TAPHONOMIC SEQUENCE OF CAST CREATION               |
|                                                                         |
|  PHASE 1: DAY 1 (79 AD)           PHASE 2: DAY 2 (79 AD)                |
|  (Plinian Pumice Fall)            (Pyroclastic Density Currents - PDCs) |
|  - White & grey pumice (lapilli)  - Superheated ash cloud (250°C-400°C) |
|  - Accumulates 2.5 to 3.0 meters  - Sweeps city at 100+ km/h            |
|  - Crushes roofs; kills ~38% of   - Thermal shock causes instant        |
|    victims through blunt trauma     cadaveric spasm ("pugilistic pose") |
|                                   - Fine ash encases bodies completely  |
|                                                                         |
|  PHASE 3: CENTURIES 2-19 AD       PHASE 4: FEBRUARY 1863                |
|  (Decomposition & Void Formation) (Fiorelli Plaster Injection)          |
|  - Fine ash hardens into tuff     - Excavator detects hollow void       |
|  - Soft tissues, flesh, and       - Liquid plaster of Paris poured      |
|    clothing slowly decay away       through access holes                |
|  - Skeleton settles at bottom     - Hardened plaster reveals 3D body    |
|  - Hollow negative cavity remains   encasing original Roman bones       |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Phase 1: The Plinian Fall (White and Grey Pumice)

Beginning around 1:00 PM on the first day of the 79 AD eruption (traditionally dated August 24 in Pliny's manuscript tradition, or October 24 under the autumn hypothesis supported by a Regio V charcoal inscription), Mount Vesuvius ejected an eruptive column reaching over 30 kilometers into the stratosphere. Winds carried millions of tons of white, and later grey, pumice stones (lapilli) southeast over Pompeii:

• Pumice accumulated at a rate of 15 to 25 centimeters per hour, eventually reaching depths of 2.5 to 3 meters across streets and courtyards.
• Skeletons found in this lower stratum (roughly 38% of all victims) were killed by falling masonry, collapsed tile roofs, or physical entrapment. These individuals did not form plaster casts because loose pumice pebbles are porous and cannot form a rigid, airtight mold around a decaying body.

Phase 2: Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs)

In the early morning hours of the second day (August 25 or October 25), the eruption column collapsed, sending six successive pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) roaring down the volcanic slopes:

• Current 4 (S-4) swept across Pompeii at speeds exceeding 100 km/h (60 mph), carrying an aerosol cloud of superheated volcanic ash and toxic gases.
• Temperatures inside the cloud reached 250°C to 400°C (480°F to 750°F).
• Medical researchers have established that victims did not suffocate slowly under ash; they experienced instantaneous thermal death. The extreme heat induced immediate protein coagulation in brain and muscle tissues, freezing victims in dramatic, contracted physical postures known as the pugilistic pose (arms flexed, fists curled, knees drawn up toward the chest).

Phase 3: Cementation and Decomposition

The fine, moist volcanic ash (cinerite) settled over the deceased, packing tightly around clothing, hair, sandals, and facial features. As rainfall percolated through the deposits, minerals precipitated, cementing the ash layer into a durable volcanic concrete. Over centuries, bacteria and groundwater broke down organic soft tissues, muscles, fat, skin, and wool, which drained away through the porous earth.

What remained was an exact, hollow three-dimensional negative void encased within hardened volcanic rock, with the durable mineralized bones of the skeleton resting inside at the base.

3. Giuseppe Fiorelli and the Science of Plaster Casting (1863)

For over a century following the initial rediscovery of Pompeii in 1748, early Bourbon excavators ignored these cavities, viewing them as inconvenient air pockets. Work crews hacked through the voids with pickaxes, scattering human bones across spoil heaps in search of gold rings, silver coins, and bronze vessels.

On February 5, 1863, newly appointed archaeological director Giuseppe Fiorelli transformed the field of archaeology on the Vicolo degli Scheletri:

       STEP-BY-STEP FIORELLI PLASTER OF PARIS CASTING PROCESS
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                         |
|  [STEP 1: VOID DETECTION]       [STEP 2: DRILLING & INJECTION]          |
|  Workman's pickaxe breaks       Excavators drill 2-3 access holes;      |
|  into hollow underground void;  funnel liquid plaster of Paris          |
|  work halts immediately.        (calcined gypsum + water) into cavity.  |
|                                                                         |
|  [STEP 3: HYDRAULIC SETTING]    [STEP 4: STRATIGRAPHIC REVELATION]      |
|  Plaster fills every crevice,   After 48-72 hours, workers chisel away  |
|  coating bones, teeth, and      hardened volcanic ash, exposing the     |
|  imprints of clothing folds.    3D cast with real bones inside.         |
|                                                                         |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Detection: When an excavator felt his trowel or pickaxe break into a hollow cavity within the compacted ash stratum, excavation stopped immediately.
2. Plaster Injection: Fiorelli prepared a fluid mixture of plaster of Paris (calcined gypsum, calcium sulfate hemihydrate, $CaSO_4 \cdot \frac{1}{2}H_2O$) dissolved in water. Using a metal funnel, workers poured the liquid plaster through small access holes drilled into the top of the void until the cavity was completely pressurized.
3. Setting: Over 48 to 72 hours, the plaster underwent an exothermic crystallization reaction, solidifying into rigid plaster of Paris that captured microscopic impressions of linen weave, leather straps, facial expressions, and muscle tension.
4. Excavation: Technicians carefully chiseled away the surrounding volcanic cinerite with fine tools, revealing the external form of the Roman citizen frozen in time, with their real skeletal bones preserved inside the core of the plaster.

The 1984 Resin Experiment: The Lady of Oplontis

In 1984, excavators under Stefano De Caro attempted a high-tech modern variation: injecting transparent epoxy resin instead of opaque gypsum into a void found at the Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius at Oplontis (Villa B).

While the resulting cast allowed the skeleton, skull, and gold jewelry to be viewed through a clear outer shell, the resin experiment was never repeated. The chemical resin generated excessive exothermic heat during curing, slightly warping ancient bones, and over four decades of exposure, the resin yellowed, became brittle, and proved nearly impossible to restore. Plaster of Paris remains the undisputed gold standard for archaeological casting.

4. The 2015 Pompeii Cast Project: CT Scans & Radiography

In 2015, the Archaeological Park launched the Pompeii Cast Project, directed by Dr. Estelle Lazer (University of Sydney) alongside radiologist Roberto Graziano and forensic orthodontist Dr. Domenico Pagano. The team utilized a specialized 16-slice multi-detector computed tomography (CT) scanner mounted on a mobile platform to non-invasively scan 26 plaster casts:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 2015 CT SCAN BREAKTHROUGHS & DEMOLISHED MYTHS          |
|                                                                         |
|  MYTH 1: "The Pregnant Woman"   -->  CT REALITY: Dense bunched clothing |
|  Garden of the Fugitives             folds around waist; non-pregnant.  |
|                                                                         |
|  MYTH 2: "Perfect Skeletons"    -->  CT REALITY: Skeletons incomplete;  |
|  Believed intact inside plaster      19th-century excavators extracted  |
|                                      bones; added iron wires & rods.    |
|                                                                         |
|  FINDING 3: Remarkable Teeth    -->  CT REALITY: Almost zero cavities;  |
|  High-fiber Mediterranean diet       massive tooth abrasion from stone  |
|                                      grit in basalt-milled flour.       |
|                                                                         |
|  FINDING 4: Cranial Fractures   -->  CT REALITY: Blunt-force trauma     |
|  Masonry & roof collapse             from falling architectural tiles   |
|                                      before pyroclastic shock.          |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Incomplete Skeletons and Victorian Manipulations

The CT scans conclusively demonstrated that not a single analyzed cast contained an anatomically complete skeleton:

• Nineteenth-century excavators frequently removed long bones (femurs, humeri) or crania from the cavities before pouring plaster, either keeping them as souvenirs or transferring them to university anatomical collections.
• Restorers inserted metal armature rods, heavy wire ligatures, and pottery sherds into wet plaster to stabilize limbs, occasionally altering the natural arm and leg angles to make postures appear more dramatic or pitiful for paying Victorian tourists.

2. Debunking "The Pregnant Woman"

One of Pompeii's most celebrated casts—a prone figure in the Garden of the Fugitives long captioned in guidebooks as a heavily pregnant woman shielding her unborn infant—was examined under high-resolution CT imaging. The scans revealed that the pronounced abdominal swelling was not an expanded uterine cavity, but a dense clump of heavy woolen tunic fabric bunched together by a cinched belt. Bioarchaeological analysis indicated the individual may not even have been female.

3. Dental Health: High-Fluoride Diets vs. Basalt Mill Grit

The dental scans provided startling insights into ancient Roman health:

• Zero Cavities (Caries): Roman Pompeians possessed exceptionally low rates of dental cavities, outperforming modern populations. Their diet was rich in vegetables, legumes, fish, and olive oil, and entirely devoid of refined cane sugar.
• Severe Occlusal Abrasion: The chewing surfaces of their molars and incisors were worn down flat, exposing internal dentin. This wear was caused by volcanic stone dust: grain was ground in Pompeii's massive basalt rotary mills, and microscopic volcanic silica particles continuously chipped off the millstones, contaminating the flour and acting like sandpaper on Roman tooth enamel.

5. The 2024 Ancient DNA Revolution: Current Biology (PMC11627482)

In November 2024, an international research team led by Elena Pilli, David Caramelli, and David Reich published a historic study in Current Biology titled "Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts" (PMC11627482).

Extracting ancient nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from petrous bone fragments and dental roots sealed inside seven famous casts, the team successfully recovered genome-wide data for five individuals, dismantling over a century of sentimental historical narratives:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|             POPULAR FICTION vs. 2024 PUBLISHED GENOMIC EVIDENCE        |
|                                                                         |
|  [HOUSE OF THE GOLDEN BRACELET]                                         |
|  - Victorian Legend: Mother wearing a snake bracelet holding her child, |
|    with the father and second child lying nearby (nuclear family).      |
|  - 2024 DNA Reality: The adult wearing the bracelet is GENETICALLY      |
|    MALE (XY). Biological kinship analysis proves he is UNRELATED to the |
|    child on his lap. No genetic relatedness exists among all 4 victims! |
|                                                                         |
|  [THE TWO SISTERS / EMBRACING LOVERS (CRYPTOPORTICUS)]                  |
|  - Victorian Legend: Two loving sisters (or lesbian lovers) locked in   |
|    an eternal embrace of mutual comfort.                                |
|  - 2024 DNA Reality: At least one individual is GENETICALLY MALE (XY).  |
|    Mitochondrial DNA (Haplogroup H vs T2b) confirms they share NO       |
|    maternal lineage; they cannot be sisters or maternal relatives.      |
|                                                                         |
|  [MEDITERRANEAN COSMOPOLITAN ORIGINS]                                   |
|  - Historiographical Assumption: Indigenous Campanian Italic stock.     |
|  - 2024 DNA Reality: Genomes cluster tightly with modern and ancient    |
|    Eastern Mediterranean, Levantine, Anatolian, and Aegean populations. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Case Study 1: The House of the Golden Bracelet

Located in Regio VI, this luxury cliffside domus yielded four famous casts found together in a basement corridor:

• The Narrative: For 50 years, the scene was captioned across world museums as a tragic nuclear family: a mother adorned with a massive 610-gram coiled-snake gold bracelet sheltering her young toddler on her hip, while her husband and older child lay deceased nearby.
• The Genomic Data: Ancient DNA proved that the adult wearing the snake bracelet was genetically male (XY) with dark hair and brown eyes.
• Kinship Testing: Pairwise genetic relatedness testing demonstrated that the adult male was completely unrelated to the child he held. Furthermore, none of the four individuals shared first-, second-, or third-degree biological kinship. They were not a nuclear family; they were likely unrelated domestic servants, enslaved household staff, or fleeing tenants caught in the same subterranean room.

Case Study 2: The Two Sisters of the Cryptoporticus

Found in 1914 in the sunken corridor of the House of the Cryptoporticus (Regio I.6.2):

• The Narrative: Two victims found with one head resting tenderly against the chest of the other, romanticized as "The Two Sisters" or "The Kissing Couple."
• The Genomic Data: Genetic sequencing proved that at least one of the two individuals (Individual 22) was genetically male (XY). Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed distinct maternal haplogroups (Haplogroup H and Haplogroup T2b), completely ruling out any maternal sibling or mother-daughter relationship.

Case Study 3: Cosmopolitan Mediterranean Ancestry

The genomic data provided sweeping insights into the demographic makeup of Roman imperial Italy:

• Rather than clustering with prehistoric indigenous Italic populations, the Pompeian genomes mapped directly onto populations from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean Islands, Anatolia, and the Levant.
• This matches ancient DNA data recovered from imperial cemeteries in Rome itself, confirming that the Roman Empire's maritime trade network and extensive slave economy had created a thoroughly cosmopolitan, genetically diverse urban population in 1st-century Campania.

6. Full Site Inventory: Where to View the Plaster Casts Today

Visitors to the Pompeii Archaeological Park can observe original plaster casts in several dedicated exhibition pavilions and in situ glass enclosures across the site:

                          [PORTA ERCOLANO]
                                 |
                        [Villa of Mysteries] (Rustic servant casts)
                                 |
    [PORTA MARINA] -------- [CIVIL FORUM] ------- [VIA DELL'ABBONDANZA] --->
          |                      |                      |
    [ANTIQUARIUM]         [FORUM GRANARY]         [GARDEN OF THE FUGITIVES]
    (Watchdog, Children,  (Horrea: crouching     (Orto dei Fuggiaschi:
     Gold bracelet casts)  victims on shelves)     13 victims in situ)
                                 |                      |
                                 +---> [LARGE PALAESTRA] +---> [AMPHITHEATER]
                                       (Permanent Central
                                        Exhibition Pavilion)

1. The Antiquarium of Pompeii (Porta Marina Entrance)

• What is displayed: The primary on-site museum gallery, renovated and modernized in 2021.
• Key Casts: The iconic Watchdog of Vesonius Primus (House of Orpheus), captured upside down with legs splayed and collar visible; casts of young children; luxury bronze and gold personal belongings found alongside victims.
• Visitor Tip: Located directly inside the Porta Marina Superiore entrance; ideal for beginning or concluding your visit.

2. The Garden of the Fugitives (Orto dei Fuggiaschi, Regio I.9.7)

• What is displayed: The most dramatic in situ installation in the ancient world. Inside an expansive covered glass pavilion overlooking an ancient vineyard, 13 plaster casts rest in the exact spatial positions where they perished.
• Key Casts: Adults shielding their faces, parents with young children, and adolescents who attempted to flee toward Porta Nocera before being overcome by Pyroclastic Surge 4.
• Visitor Tip: Located in the quiet southeastern quadrant of the city near the Amphitheater.

3. The Forum Granary (Horrea, Regio VII.7)

• What is displayed: Located on the western flank of the Civil Forum, this ancient commercial grain market functions as an open archaeological repository.
• Key Casts: Behind heavy iron grilles, visitors can view several evocative plaster casts—including a crouched man holding his hands to his mouth to filter toxic ash—displayed alongside thousands of terracotta amphorae, marble basins, and roof tiles.

4. The Large Palaestra (Palestra Grande, Regio II.7)

• What is displayed: The monumental porticoed athletics courtyard adjacent to the Amphitheater. The covered eastern gallery houses the park's permanent thematic exhibition on the 79 AD eruption.
• Key Casts: Contains rotating climate-controlled vitrines featuring restored human casts, medical cross-sections, animal casts, and educational displays illustrating the 2015 CT scanning project.

5. The Villa of the Mysteries (Extramural Suburb)

• What is displayed: In the rustic quarters and wine-pressing rooms of this celebrated suburban mansion, excavators uncovered and cast the remains of domestic workers and caretakers who stayed behind to guard the estate.

7. Ethical Protocols & Visitor Conduct

The plaster casts of Pompeii occupy a delicate dual status in modern cultural heritage: they are celebrated works of archaeological art, but they are also genuine human remains containing real Roman skeletons.

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the Italian Ministry of Culture enforce strict behavioral protocols for all visitors:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                  VISITOR CODE OF ETHICS FOR PLASTER CASTS               |
|                                                                         |
|  [DO RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY]             [DO NOT SENSATIONALIZE]         |
|  - Maintain quiet, contemplative        - Never pose playfully or mimic |
|    demeanor near glass vitrines.          victim agony postures for     |
|  - Remember these represent real          social media photos.          |
|    human beings who suffered a          - Never touch protective glass, |
|    violent death in 79 AD.                metal frames, or barriers.    |
|  - Educate children on casting          - Never use selfie sticks over  |
|    methodology vs petrification.          barriers or crowd displays.   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Maintain Reverence: Treat the exhibition spaces with the quiet respect appropriate for a cemetery or historic memorial. Refrain from loud shouting, phone speaker calls, or disruptive group behavior.
2. Prohibited Social Media Mimicry: Park custodians strictly forbid visitors from mimicking the contorted death poses of the casts for humorous photographs or social media videos. Offending visitors can be escorted from the park.
3. Zero Physical Contact: Never touch, lean against, or tap on the glass display cases. Humidity, skin oils, and vibrations degrade the stabilized conservation environment.
4. Photography Regulations: Non-commercial personal photography without flash is permitted. The use of tripods, professional lighting rigs, and drone cameras is strictly prohibited without written ministerial permits.

8. Ticketing & Planning Your Route to the Casts

To view the plaster casts without unnecessary physical exhaustion, plan your ticketing and entry logistics in advance:

• 2026 Ticketing Rules: Individual admission tickets are nominative (bearing your legal name) and tied to specific entry time slots via the park's official vendor, Vivaticket. Carry a valid government photo ID (passport or driver's license) matching the name on your ticket.
• Daily Capacity Limit: The park enforces a strict cap of 20,000 visitors per day (divided into 15,000 morning tickets and 5,000 afternoon tickets). Book your ticket online 2 to 3 weeks in advance during peak season (April through October).
• Optimal Arrival Gate for Casts:
  • Enter via Porta Marina to visit the Antiquarium and Forum Granary first.
  • Walk eastward down the Via dell'Abbondanza to conclude at the Garden of the Fugitives and Large Palaestra.
  • Exit conveniently through the Piazza Anfiteatro gate into modern Pompei town.

Consult our detailed guides on Pompeii opening hours and seasonal timetables and online ticket reservations for complete visitor instructions.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Are the bodies in Pompeii real petrified corpses?

No. The figures are plaster casts (calchi in gesso), not petrified or mummified bodies. Volcanic ash solidified around victims; when the soft tissues decayed, they left hollow cavities. In 1863, Giuseppe Fiorelli filled these voids with liquid plaster, preserving the exact form of the deceased around their real skeleton.

How many plaster casts exist in Pompeii?

The Archaeological Park notes that a little over one hundred plaster casts of human victims have been produced since Giuseppe Fiorelli invented the technique in 1863 (around 104 cataloged in historical inventories). Excavators have also cast over 100 animals (dogs, horses, mules), as well as wooden doors, furniture, and tree root systems. In total, remains of over one thousand victims (with more than 1,150 cataloged in detailed inventories) have been documented across excavated sectors.

What did the 2024 ancient DNA study reveal?

A landmark genomic study in Current Biology (November 2024, PMC11627482) extracted ancient DNA from bone fragments inside the casts. It proved that an adult wearing a gold bracelet holding a child was genetically male and completely unrelated to the child, disproving the "mother and child" label. In the "two sisters" cast, at least one individual was confirmed to be male.

What did the 2015 CT scans show inside the casts?

The 2015 Pompeii Cast Project CT-scanned 26 casts. It revealed that none contained complete skeletons; bones had often been removed or manipulated by 19th-century restorers. It also disproved the identification of a famous "pregnant woman," showing the bump was bunched clothing, and revealed remarkably healthy teeth with zero cavities.

What was the cause of death for the victims?

Victims of the second phase died instantly from thermal shock caused by dilute pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) at temperatures between 250°C and 400°C. The intense heat caused instant cadaveric spasms (the pugilistic pose) and immediate organ failure, followed by ash suffocation.

Where can you see the plaster casts in Pompeii today?

Casts are on display in the Antiquarium (Porta Marina), the Garden of the Fugitives (Orto dei Fuggiaschi), the Large Palaestra exhibition gallery, and the Forum Granary (Horrea).

What is the transparent resin cast in Pompeii?

In 1984, excavators created a single cast using transparent epoxy resin at the Villa of Fabius Rufus. The clear casing allowed the internal skull, bones, and jewelry to remain visible. However, the technique was abandoned because the resin yellowed, became brittle, and was difficult to preserve.

Did any victims survive the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?

Some residents survived. The Archaeological Park describes surviving Pompeians returning after the eruption to recover possessions and valuable furnishings. The casts and recovered remains cannot establish an exact survivor count, so a specific number or percentage should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.

10. Primary Scientific References

• Pilli, E., et al. (2024): "Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of the Pompeii plaster casts," Current Biology, 34(22), 5360–5371. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.007. PMC: PMC11627482.
• Lazer, E., et al. (2019): "Inside the casts of the Pompeian victims: results from the first season of the Pompeii Cast Project in 2015," Papers of the British School at Rome, 87, 1–32.
• Lazer, E. (2009): Resurrecting Pompeii, Routledge, London & New York.
• Osanna, M. (2019): Pompei. Il tempo ritrovato. Le nuove scoperte, Rizzoli, Milan.
• Parco Archeologico di Pompei (2026): Official Visitor Regulations, Conservation Reports, and Thematic Cast Inventories, Ministero della Cultura (pompeiisites.org).