2,000 year-old Pompeii dig reveals giraffe bone and rare glassified human brain

More than two millennia ago, Mount

Vesuvius

erupted with cataclysmic force, burying the Roman cities of

Pompeii

and Herculaneum under thick layers of ash and volcanic debris. The disaster struck so suddenly in 79 AD that people, animals, and daily life were frozen in time—preserved beneath the very thing that destroyed them. What archaeologists have uncovered from these buried cities offers a remarkable glimpse into Roman civilization, from cuisine and commerce to medicine and morality.
Recent discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of the lives that ended abruptly in Vesuvius' shadow. From exotic animal bones in market drains to vitrified human brains and political graffiti drawn by children, these finds bring ancient Rome into sharper, more vivid focus.

Giraffe bone in Pompeii drain reveals Roman taste for the exotic

Beneath the remains of ancient Pompeii’s bustling marketplaces, archaeologists from the

University of Cincinnati

uncovered a remarkable variety of food remnants in the drainage systems. Among them: sea urchins, shellfish, and most notably, the leg joint of a butchered giraffe.

This giraffe bone is believed to be the first and only one ever discovered in an archaeological excavation in Roman Italy. Its presence indicates that Pompeii was part of a complex, far-reaching trade network that extended well beyond the Mediterranean. According to archaeologist

Steven Ellis

, the director of the excavation, the giraffe bone was likely discarded as kitchen waste in a working-class restaurant.
This single find not only illustrates the luxurious tastes of Roman diners, even among non-elites, but also underscores the global scale of ancient trade and the surprising diversity of Roman diets.

The glass brain phenomenon of Herculaneum

In neighboring Herculaneum, also devastated by the same eruption, archaeologists made a discovery as chilling as it is rare. Inside the skulls of two victims, researchers found pieces of dark glass-like material—fossilized brain tissue, formed by a process called vitrification.
This transformation occurs when soft tissue is exposed to temperatures exceeding 510°C and then rapidly cooled, turning organic material into glass. One of the victims was found lying on a wooden bed, and both were buried under massive amounts of ash, which enveloped Herculaneum to a depth five times greater than that of Pompeii.
These vitrified brains are among the only known examples in the world and offer a haunting window into the physical trauma experienced by Vesuvius’ victims.

Eroticism in art: Pompeii’s hidden museum of sexual culture

Pompeii’s reputation for raucous pleasures is bolstered by the widespread discovery of sexually explicit artworks, mosaics, and sculptures throughout the city. Much of this erotic art was excavated from homes, taverns, and brothels, particularly the Lupanar—the city’s most famous brothel.
Phallic symbols, frescoes depicting intimate acts, and statues celebrating fertility were once part of everyday life and are believed to have served not just as advertisements but also as talismans for prosperity and health. Many of these items are now displayed in the so-called "Secret Museum" of the Naples Archaeological Museum—a collection once deemed too scandalous for public viewing and sealed off in 1849.
The Secret Museum remained closed for over 150 years, finally reopening permanently in 2000, revealing to the public the Romans' open attitude toward sexuality and their belief in its divine and symbolic significance.

Children's graffiti and political slogans: Pompeii’s living walls

The walls of Pompeii were alive with messages—political endorsements, crude jokes, love notes, and even children's drawings. One of the most fascinating aspects of the recent excavations has been the discovery of charcoal graffiti created by children, likely as young as five years old.
These simple sketches depict gladiators battling animals and each other, suggesting that children were firsthand witnesses to the brutal spectacles of the amphitheater. According to

Gabriel Zuchtriegel

, director of the

Pompeii Archaeological Park

, these illustrations may have been drawn during playtime, within view of kitchens and gardens, showing that even the youngest inhabitants were immersed in the violent rhythms of Roman entertainment.
In addition to children's artwork, numerous electoral slogans have been preserved, offering insight into the political landscape at the time of the eruption. These inscriptions promote local candidates, underscoring how deeply politics permeated daily Roman life.

Surgical tools and medical knowledge in ancient Rome

One of the more sobering finds from the ruins is the extensive collection of surgical instruments recovered from various homes and public buildings, especially a structure known as the House of the Surgeon. The tools include scalpels, forceps, hooks, and probes—many crafted from copper alloys.
While Romans lacked knowledge of microbial infections and germ theory, the use of copper may have provided unintended antiseptic benefits due to its antimicrobial properties. The surgical instruments highlight the complexity of Roman medical practices and suggest that physicians performed a range of procedures, possibly even in domestic settings.

The Catastrophe of 79 AD: How Pompeii and Herculaneum were lost

Pompeii was a prosperous Roman city located near modern Naples, Italy. It was obliterated when Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 AD, spewing volcanic ash, toxic gases, and pyroclastic flows that suffocated and buried the city’s inhabitants.
Herculaneum, situated to the west of Vesuvius, suffered an even more intense fate—buried under deeper layers of ash and pumice. The volcanic explosion was estimated to be 100,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
The sudden nature of the disaster meant that many victims died where they stood, and their final moments were preserved as voids in the hardened ash. Archaeologists have since injected plaster into these voids to recreate the shapes and poses of those who perished, offering a haunting portrait of life interrupted.
Pompeii remained buried for over 1,500 years until rediscovered in 1599, with more systematic excavations beginning in the mid-18th century. The remarkable state of preservation is due to the lack of air and moisture in the volcanic ash that entombed the city.

Ongoing excavations and new discoveries

To this day, excavations around Vesuvius continue to reveal new information. In February 2025, archaeologists uncovered the skeleton of a child crouched in the thermal baths of Pompeii—yet another tragic victim of the eruption. The discovery adds to the growing database of human stories that paint a broader picture of the ancient Roman world.
Experts warn that while Vesuvius is currently dormant, it remains one of the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth, looming over nearly three million residents in the Campania region. Its unpredictability serves as a chilling reminder of the destructive power of nature.