© Michele Falzone/Getty Images/AWL Images RMThe archeological site at Pompeii, Italy.
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.
Pompeii and Herculaneum were previously thought to have been destroyed by the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 24 August, based on contemporary writings and archeological finds.
Nevertheless, evidence such as autumnal fruits on branches found in the ashen ruins had suggested a later date since the 19th century, Osanna said.
"Today, with much humility, perhaps we will rewrite the history books because we date the eruption to the second half of October," said Italy's culture minister, Alberto Bonisoli.
Pompeii is the second most-visited tourist site in Italy, after the Colosseum in Rome, with more than 3 million visitors in the first eight months of this year.
Comment: It's quite telling about our grasp of history that seemingly simple facts such as the date of the disaster that occurred at Pompeii is still uncertain:
- Exploded skulls and vaporized bodies: Pompeii finds reveal horror of Vesuvius eruption
- The destruction of ancient Rome - The barbarians were not responsible
- The Golden Age, Psychopathy and the Sixth Extinction
And check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Who was Jesus? Examining the evidence that Christ may in fact have been Caesar!