Archeology: a “slave room” discovered in the ruins of Pompeii – franceinfo

Exceptional discovery in Pompeii. Archaeologists announced on Saturday November 6 that they had unearthed the remains of a “slave room”. It houses three beds, one of which is the size of a child, eight amphorae, a ceramic pot and a wooden chest. This room was discovered during excavations in a villa in Civita Giuliana, a district located a few hundred meters north of the archaeological park of Pompeii (Italy), buried in 79 AD.

“It is a window into the precarious reality of these people who rarely appear in historical sources, written almost exclusively by men belonging to the elite.”

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director general of the archaeological site of Pompeii

Press release

This “unique testimony” about the way which “the weakest of ancient society lived (…) is certainly one of the most exciting discoveries of my life as an archaeologist”, added the director general of the archaeological site. The 16 square meter room was located between a bedroom and a storage room. “This room, thanks to its exceptional state of preservation, offers us a rare glimpse of the daily reality of slaves”, emphasizes the archaeological park.

This room was discovered at the place where, at the beginning of the year, a large ceremonial float had been unearthed, in excellent condition. According to archaeologists, the room was probably occupied by slaves in charge of maintaining the tank. The wooden chest contained metal and fabric objects that appear to be part of the harnesses of the horses pulling the chariot. A tank axis was also found on one of the beds. The tank had been discovered in a porch in front of a stable where, already in 2018, the remains of three equines had been found.