For nearly 1,700 years, the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum – consumed by volcanic ash in the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius – remained buried. Today, the sites are archaeological marvels and attract millions of visitors every year. Jonathan Wright charts the story of their discovery and excavation
POMPEII, Italy In a few horrible hours, Pompeii was turned from a vibrant city into an ash-embalmed wasteland, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in A.D. 79.