Archeological find changes date of Pompeii's destruction

Inscription suggests Mount Vesuvius erupted weeks later than previously thought

A newly-discovered inscription at Pompeii proves the city was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius after 17 October AD79 and not on 24 August as previously thought.

Archeologists recently discovered that a worker had inscribed the date of "the 16th day before the calends of November", meaning 17 October, on a house at Pompeii, the head of archeology at the site, Massimo Osanna, told Italian media.