Pompeii archaeologists use AI to generate picture of Roman fleeing Vesuvius eruption ‘with terracotta pot on his head’
Archaeologists at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The AI-generated image depicts a man sprinting for his life while clutching a terracotta pot on his head as lava smothers the city.
Researchers believe it offers a new way to understand the natural disaster, which may have killed up to 16,000 people.
The image shows a man whose remains, along with those of another person, were discovered as they attempted to flee the city towards the coast during the volcanic eruption in AD79.
Researchers believe the man died early in the disaster, during a heavy fall of volcanic debris.
He was found with the pot and was also carrying a lamp, a small iron ring and ten bronze coins.
The reconstruction was developed by the Pompeii Archaeological Park in collaboration with the University of Padua and based on archaeological survey data from excavations near the Porta Stabia necropolis, just outside the walls of the ancient city.
He is shown running along a rough, debris-covered road, holding a large, shallow bowl over his head and using it as a shield while Mount Vesuvius is seen erupting in the background.
The AI generated image depicts a man sprinting for his life while clutching a terracotta pot on his head as lava smothered on the the city
Archaeologists at the ancient Roman site of Pompeii have used artificial intelligence to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Naples, was buried under ash and pumice when Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, preserving the city and the remains of thousands of its inhabitants in remarkable detail.
Archaeologists found the man holding a terracotta mortar, which they interpreted as an improvised attempt to shield his head from falling small volcanic stones that rained down during the eruption.
Ancient accounts, including Roman writer Pliny the Younger’s, describe Pompeii’s residents using objects to protect themselves as ash and debris blanketed the city.
The digital portrait was created using AI and photo-editing techniques designed to translate skeletal and archaeological data into a realistic human likeness.
Pompeii park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said: ‘The vastness of archaeological data is now such that only with the help of artificial intelligence will we be able to adequately protect and enhance them. If used well, AI can contribute to a renewal of classical studies.’
The project aims to make archaeological research more accessible and emotionally engaging for the public while maintaining a scientific foundation, researchers said.
