70 years after the last major excavations, archaeologists are unearthing the people of Pompeii — rich and poor — and discovering how they lived and died in the city’s final hours. This landmark investigation sheds new light on daily life in the ancient Roman town, revealing extraordinary details preserved in volcanic ash. Among the discoveries are an exquisitely crafted chariot, a roadside tavern still stocked with remnants of its last meal, and a small room beside the stables believed to have housed an enslaved family. Together, these finds paint the most vivid picture yet of Pompeii on the eve of disaster.

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Streaming Now On: PBS