The skeletons freshly unearthed during maintenance work on the famous "Houses of Chaste Lovers" are probably those of two men in their fifties.
They have "multiple fractures caused by the collapse of the building," said a statement from the ministry.
According to archaeologists, the inhabitants of Pompeii died not only because of the eruption of Vesuvius, causing lava flows and large fallout of volcanic ash, but also because of the earthquake that accompanied it and caused the collapse of many buildings.
"The techniques of modern excavations help us to better understand the hell that completely destroyed the city of Pompeii in two days, killing many inhabitants," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
An archaeologist works on one of two skeletons recently discovered in Pompeii, May 16, 2023 © Handout / Parco Archeologico di Pompei press office / AFP
The volcanic ash spewed 2,000 years ago by Mount Vesuvius has settled on most of Pompeii's dwellings, allowing them to be preserved almost entirely, as have many of the bodies of the 3,000 deaths caused by the disaster.
Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the second most visited tourist destination in Italy after the Colosseum in Rome.
© 2023 AFP