Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved turtle with egg in Pompeii. The turtle probably hid in a workshop and dug a cave there to lay the egg. During excavations, the animal came to light again.
The shell of the small turtle is almost completely intact, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Friday. However, the animal was never able to lay its egg. “The turtle had clearly entered the workshop and dug a hole in a sheltered corner where it could lay its egg. It failed, possibly resulting in her death,” said Italian anthropologist Valeria Amoretti. from the Universita Orientale in Naples, the Free University of Berlin and the University of Oxford, who had examined the remains of a wealthy house.
“Window on the City’s Last Years”
The turtle is “an important find that opens a window into the city’s last years, the years after the earthquake when all of Pompeii became one big, vibrant building site,” said Gabriel Breeding Riegel, director of the Archaeological Park. At that time, the ecosystem of the city had changed and there were also animals on the construction sites or in the workshops. The old town is “(…) full of historical treasures that fascinate the world,” said Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini.
The Italian archaeological site is now one of the most popular sights in Italy and always brings finds to light. Buried under ash, mud and lava during eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii was finally rediscovered in the 18th century.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
