Researchers excavating a home on Via dell’Abbondanza in Pompeii have uncovered a collection of artifacts preserved within a wooden wardrobe that remained sealed for approximately 2,000 years. The discovery includes grooming implements, cosmetic containers, currency, and jewelry that shed light on the routines and customs of ancient Roman residents before the catastrophic volcanic event of AD79. The most notable find among the wardrobe’s contents is a necklace adorned with more than 20 small charms fashioned from different materials and depicting various deities. This type of accessory, termed a crepundia, was characteristically worn by children in Roman society. According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, such necklaces functioned as both identification devices and comfort objects, with the charms producing sound to help parents monitor their children’s whereabouts. The pieces often served as reminders of family members, particularly in a society where displacement and travel throughout the Mediterranean region were commonplace. Additional items discovered in the wardrobe point to the household’s composition and occupation. The presence of 38 bronze coins, cooking implements, and a wooden box containing lead weights suggests that a resident engaged in trade or commerce. The abandonment of valuable items and personal belongings may indicate that occupants evacuated hastily during the volcanic eruption, according to archaeological analysis. The home itself has historical significance, having been previously linked to an individual named Cornelius Maximus through inscriptions. While the building’s exterior underwent initial excavation in 1912, comprehensive exploration of interior spaces is occurring as part of an ongoing restoration initiative. Additionally, systematic work continues at the Villa of the Mysteries in a suburban area of Pompeii, with ongoing efforts focusing on servants’ quarters rather than the owners’ residential sections, thereby providing perspective on the lived experiences of lower-status inhabitants whose histories have remained largely undocumented.
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