National Geographic - Lost Treasures of Rome (2022) Part 6 Pompeii's Lost Twin Herculaneum

753 BC, a year that is usually thought as the founding date of Rome. However, the latest archaeological research shows that the originally modest settlement on the Tiber must have been founded much earlier than 753 BC. At least two of the city's famous seven hills were probably already settled in the 10th century BC. However, these are by no means the only highly exciting facts that archaeology has uncovered and that have recently changed our image of the “Eternal City”. The series “Lost Treasures of Rome” follows international research teams who go in search of clues in various places of the former world empire. In the process, they discover numerous finds that help to unravel ancient secrets surrounding the Roman Empire. The focus is often on the lives of ordinary people at that time. The most well-known in this context is the ancient city of Pompeii near present-day Naples. In 79 AD, it was completely buried under ash after an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius. Scientific excavations of the site began in the 18th century. “Lost Treasures of Rome” shows that spectacular discoveries are still made here to this day. Another episode deals with the excavation of a gigantic theater building. In addition, archaeologists on the coast of Sicily come across the remains of a sea battle that could shed light on why Rome of all places was able to become the decisive superpower of antiquity. This new series follows International teams of archaeologists on the front line, as they embark on a season of excavations to unravel the secrets of life in the Roman Empire. Crawling beneath Pompeii, unearthing an enormous lost coliseum, and hauling a 2000 year old battleship ram from the depths of the ocean, they race to unlock the secrets of this ancient civilization.

Part 6 Pompeii's Lost Twin Herculaneum

In addition to Pompeii, the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD also buried the coastal town of Herculaneum under a layer of ash. The found remains provide unique insights into everyday Roman life. The deadly volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii in AD79 also claimed another victim Herculaneum. Positioned closer to the Vesuvius crater, this seaside town was covered in ash five times as thick as Pompeii, yet miraculously is even better preserved. Now, the discovery of an intact skeleton here, the first excavated in 25 years, helps investigators piece together the final hours of Herculaneum and unravel why Vesuvius struck so violently here.

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