Pompeii victim ID'd as a likely doctor

Archaeologists at Pompeii Archaeological Park identified one of the victims of the 79 A.D. Mount Vesuvius eruption as a doctor after advanced exams revealed surgical instruments inside a plaster cast. Diagnostic investigations using X-rays and tomography revealed a slate plate inside the case, likely used for preparing medical or cosmetic substances, and small metal instruments that can be interpreted as surgical tools. The victim likely died while trying to escape the ancient city, carrying medical instruments and personal belongings as deadly volcanic flows swept through Pompeii.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-18