AI used to reveal face of victim fleeing Mount Vesuvius eruption

Discoveries continue at Pompeii 05:42

Archaeologists at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a victim of the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius that choked the city, offering a new way to understand one of history’s most famous natural disasters.

The digital portrait depicts an older man who was among two victims discovered as they tried to flee the city to the coast of what is now Italy during the volcanic eruption. Researchers believe the man died earlier in the disaster, during a heavy fall of volcanic debris.

The reconstruction was developed by the Pompeii Archaeological Park in collaboration with the University of Padua and is based on archaeological survey data from excavations near the Porta Stabia necropolis, just outside the ancient city walls.

Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Naples, was buried in ash and pumice when Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, preserving the city and thousands of its inhabitants in remarkable detail.

Archaeologists found the victim holding a terracotta mortar, which they interpret as an improvised attempt to protect his head from falling lapilli, the small volcanic stones that rained down during the eruption.

Ancient accounts, including those of the Roman writer Pliny the Younger, describe residents using objects to protect themselves as ash and debris covered the city.

The man also carried an oil lamp, a small iron ring and 10 bronze coins, personal items that provide insight into his final moments as well as daily life in Pompeii before the disaster.

Archaeologists noted that the victim, along with many other people, was discovered near the city gates, emphasizing that “it should be borne in mind that many may have lost their lives outside the city, trying to reach the coast.”

Last year, archaeologists discovered evidence suggesting reoccupation of Pompeii after the devastating eruption, as some survivors could not afford to start new lives elsewhere.

The digital portrait was created using artificial intelligence and photo editing techniques designed to translate skeletal and archaeological data into a realistic human likeness.

“The immensity of archaeological data is now such that only with the help of artificial intelligence will we be able to adequately protect and enhance it. If used well, AI can contribute to a revival of classical studies,” said the director of Pompeii Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, in a press release.

The project aims to make archaeological research more accessible and emotionally engaging for the public while maintaining a scientific basis, the researchers said.

“Pompeii is perhaps the most prestigious place in the world for archaeological research, where each new discovery enthusiastically illuminates the intrigue of ancient life,” Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement. “The investigations carried out with these excavations demonstrate that innovative methodologies, used carefully, can offer us new historical perspectives.”

Earlier this year, archaeologists announced they had discovered a 2,000-year-old message of love and a gladiator fight scene depicted on a wall in Pompeii.