2 skeletons discovered at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii

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Two skeletons have been uncovered in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was annihilated by a volcanic eruption around 2 millennia ago originating from Mount Vesuvius, the Italian Culture Ministry announced on Tuesday. 

The skeletons are thought to be of two men in their 50s who were found at a  building known as the "House of the Painters at Work", and died as a result of the earthquake that accompanied the eruption, the Ministry statement explained.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Pompeii's Archaeological Park Director revealed that the men did not die as a result of the red hot volcanic ash that covered the city at the time, but rather they passed away due to the building collapsing on top of them, as wall fragments were discovered wedged between their bones.

"Modern excavation techniques help us to better understand the inferno that completely destroyed the city of Pompeii over two days, killing many inhabitants", Zuchtriegel said.

Pompeii is located 23 km to the southeast of Naples and housed around 13,000 residents that were wiped up by the volcanic eruption equivalent to multiple nuclear explosions 2,000 years ago in the year 79 AD. 

The Culture Ministry said "at least 15-20% of the population" died as a result of the event. Over the past 250 years, archaeologists have excavated upwards of 1,300 bodies from the area.

A recent EU project provided 105 million euros to support archeological efforts in the area which was rediscovered in the 16th century.

"The discovery of these two skeletons shows us that we still need to study a lot, do more excavations to bring out everything that is still (hiding) in this immense treasure," the Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano stated