New archaeological evidence shows that Pompeii saw signs of reoccupation after the catastrophic eruption of AD 79. Researchers now believe that survivors—and possibly migrants from surrounding areas—returned to the damaged city in search of shelter, opportunity, and remnants of value buried beneath the ash. This reoccupation may have continued into the fifth century AD before the area was permanently abandoned.
The findings, published in the E-Journal of the Pompeii Excavations, come from ongoing efforts to restore and preserve the Insula Meridionalis, a section of the ancient city.
Excavations reveal that people began settling in the upper floors of buildings that had remained above the volcanic debris. Ground floors, now buried or partially collapsed, were repurposed into cellars and makeshift shelters, equipped with ovens, mills, and hearths.
A city reclaimed by the desperate
Prior estimates place Pompeii’s population at about 20,000 before the eruption. Roughly 1,300 victims have been uncovered since excavations began in the 18th century, a number that continues to raise questions among researchers. Some believe many residents escaped the initial disaster but lacked the means to rebuild elsewhere.
Traces of Pompeian names in other Campanian towns suggest some survivors resettled. However, evidence now shows others returned to live among the ruins—possibly joined by outsiders who had no homes of their own.
The site offered not only shelter but the chance to recover lost possessions. People dug into the subsoil for items of value, often risking the grim discovery of decomposing victims. Over time, vegetation returned, and a rough settlement began to emerge. The area, however, lacked formal organization or services, and the new inhabitants lived in poor and unstable conditions.
Failed restoration and forgotten history
In response to this disorder, Emperor Titus reportedly dispatched two former consuls to manage recovery across the region. Their mission included redistributing property left by victims without heirs and encouraging the rebuilding of cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum. Despite these efforts, the attempt to restore Pompeii as a functioning Roman city ultimately failed.
Archaeological director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said earlier excavations prioritized the city’s AD 79 remains—particularly its preserved frescoes and furniture—while ignoring signs of later habitation.
He explained that many post-eruption traces were removed without documentation. Recent digs, however, are revealing a different narrative: Pompeii’s reoccupation after the eruption was marked by makeshift living and a fragile return to life in a city shaped by disaster.
