The excavated site of Herculaneum in the foreground with the town of Ercolano surrounding it, Ercolano, Italy

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The town of Herculaneum (in modern Italian, Ercolano) was buried by volcanic pyroclastic flows, superheated mud and ash, on 24th August AD 79. The surges of boiling mud and ash filled the the town and buildings from the bottom up causing them little damage and preserving most of the structures from collapse. A deep (up to 25 meters), dense volcanic tuff formed an airtight seal over Herculaneum for 1,700 years

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Size: 4287px × 2848px
Location: Via 4 Novembre, Ercolano, Campania, Italy
Photo credit: © George Brice / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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