Pompeii Wardrobe Discovery Reveals Ancient Roman Personal Items and Child's Necklace

Archaeologists have uncovered a wooden wardrobe sealed for nearly 2,000 years in the ruins of Pompeii, containing personal items, cosmetics, coins, and a child’s charm necklace. The finds offer a glimpse into daily life in the ancient Roman city before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.

The wardrobe was found in a home on Via dell’Abbondanza. According to reported findings, the contents included makeup tools, a small glass perfume bottle, an incense burner, a bronze lantern, and 38 bronze coins alongside cooking pots and lead weights.

Key Discoveries from the Wardrobe

• Child's Necklace (Crepundia): A necklace featuring more than 20 small charms depicting deities such as Bes and Mercury, traditionally worn by children to help parents track or identify them.
• Tradesperson Indicators: A wooden box with lead weights and cooking pots alongside currency suggests a tradesperson may have lived in the home.
• Verifying the Findings: Official updates and details regarding ongoing excavations can be followed through the official Pompeii archaeological park announcements and academic reports.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, noted that items like the crepundia reflect personal displacement and family connections in the ancient Mediterranean. The presence of money and personal objects points to residents potentially fleeing the eruption hastily. Additionally, ongoing restoration and excavation projects continue in areas such as the Villa of the Mysteries to uncover more about daily life and the quarters of inhabitants in the ancient city.