Pompeii Wardrobe Discovery Reveals Ancient Roman Treasures

Experts working in the ruins of Pompeii have made a remarkable discovery inside a sealed wooden wardrobe that remained untouched for nearly two thousand years. Located within a residential building on Via dell’Abbondanza, one of the city's main thoroughfares, the cabinet preserved a collection of everyday artifacts that shed light on ancient Roman domestic life before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.

The contents of the wardrobe included utilitarian and personal items such as cooking pots, tweezers, a bronze lantern, an incense burner, and a small glass perfume bottle. Researchers also cataloged thirty-eight bronze coins alongside a wooden box containing lead weights, indicating that a merchant or tradesperson likely resided in the dwelling. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the Pompeii archaeological park, noted that the presence of currency and personal belongings suggests the residents were forced to flee the natural disaster with very little notice.

A sealed wooden wardrobe in Pompeii preserved ancient Roman coins, cosmetics, and a child's charm necklace.

Among the most notable finds was a child's necklace known as a crepundia. The decorative item featured over twenty small charms depicting various deities, including the gods Bes and Mercury. Such charms served a dual purpose in ancient society, providing a pleasant rattling sound that helped parents track their children while also functioning as a method of identification. Zuchtriegel explained that these items were particularly common among displaced populations in the Mediterranean region, acting as keepsakes from family members living far away.

In addition to the wardrobe contents, researchers discovered the skeletal remains of two mice inside an amphora within the storage area. The building itself was initially partially excavated in 1912 and linked to an individual named Cornelius Maximus through historical inscriptions that are no longer visible. Current restoration efforts are allowing experts to explore previously unexamined rooms.

Wider Excavations

Beyond Via dell’Abbondanza, archaeological work continues at other sites including the Villa of the Mysteries in a suburban area. Investigations here are focusing on the servants' quarters rather than the primary living spaces, offering researchers a deeper understanding of the economy and daily experiences of individuals who lived in the shadow of history. Recent years have continually added to the archaeological record of the ancient city, following the discovery of a thermal bath complex in 2015 and a compact bakery used by enslaved people in 2023.

Why it matters

This discovery offers an intimate look into the personal lives and economic activities of ordinary people in an ancient Roman city before it was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius.