In
AD 79
an eruption of Mount Vesuvius
effectively wiped out the Roman town of Pompeii. Volcanic ash
and pumice rained down on the town for about 18 hours (to depths of 8-10 feet); many roofs
collapsed under the weight. This was followed by a nuée ardente, explosive
superheated pyroclastic clouds of toxic gas and debris that came in six
surges. Pompeii was completely covered and remained hidden for over 1600
years.
In
1748, Pompeii was rediscovered--not only its houses, but (eventually) some of its
citizens. Although only fragmentary skeletal remains were found there,
hollow spaces within the hardened volcanic debris revealed the forms of many deceased Romans. Suffocated by volcanic
gasses and covered in ash and debris, their bodies eventually decayed inside
the hardening matter. 
This air space essentially formed a mold, since the ash that had surrounded the person retained an imprint
of the body. Excavators realized this and filled the air pockets with
plaster. The resulting "plaster mummies" poignantly capture the
human tragedy of Pompeii.
A visit to Pompeii (and nearby Herculaneum,
where only skeletons were found)
should be high on any world traveller's list of must-see sites...and not
just to see plaster mummies. The structure of the city, the architecture
of the buildings, the beauty of the artwork--all make for an unforgettable
visit. Even to walk on the stones of the street is mind-boggling.
During my many visits to Pompeii (most
recently in June 2006), I found plaster mummies among the ruins in the following
places (but please note that I did not visit every building in Pompeii;
you may find many others and some of these may be removed from display):
The Garden of the
Fugitives (13 plaster mummies were found there), the Stabian Thermal
Baths (2), the Horrea and Forum Olitorium
(as many as 6 can be seen in
this storage facility), the Villa of the Mysteries
(2), and the Macellum
(2). Bodies used to be displayed in the Pompeii
Antiquarium, though this is now closed.
Others are displayed in
houses that are only occasionally open to the public, including the
House of the Cryptoporticus. Visitors who arrive at Pompeii early on
weekend days can request tickets to the special houses that are open,
only on weekend mornings. Lack of funding and adequate security make such
limited opening hours a necessity.
