New excavations at Pompeii reveal that survivors of the 79 A.D. eruption returned to the ash-covered city and lived on upper floors for approximately 400 years. These individuals, joined by others seeking valuables or shelter, occupied the ruins until the fifth century A.D. The reoccupation, previously overlooked due to earlier excavation methods, is documented in a new report. Researchers found evidence of homes, cellars, and workshops built within the existing structures. The exact number of post-eruption inhabitants remains unknown, but the discovery sheds new light on Pompeii's complex history.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.