Scrolls containing Greek text written on scorched papyrus.
Herculaneum Discovered 1752
Workers tunnelling into a large, wealthy villa discovered a large number of what appeared to be sticks of charcoal, some of them bundled together. Upon closer inspection, these sticks proved to be rolls of the ancient writing material papyrus
Fused mass of coins ( once contained in a wicker basket )
Herculaneum Date unknown
As the eruption destroyed the city many people went back to grab valuable objects such as these coins and jewellery. These bronze and silver denarii coins were found in a wicker basket.
Wooden table and wooden linen chest
Herculaneum Date unknown
When Vesuvius erupted most of the domestic objects were carbonised ( blackened and turned into charcoal by the intense heat) This took all the moisture out which then stopped them from decaying. Other things such as doors, staircases, chairs etc were also preserved in Herculaneum but not as much in Pompeii since the volcano destroyed the cities in different ways. This chest is an example of an artefact that survived the eruption. When this chest was found during the excavation, it was opened and was found to be holding carbonised clothing.
Charm bracelet
Herculaneum Date unknown
Found near a skeleton of a young child, this bracelet was made from over 40 charms. The charms included lead, glass, bronze, carnelian, rock crystal ( from the Alps ), and amber ( from the Baltic) and Faience (from Egypt ).