Archaeologists in Italy have discovered a turtle in Pompeii that is almost 2.000 years old, it was announced this Sunday.
The turtle, found among the remains of an ancient city under Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy, dates to AD 62 - after the earthquake but before the volcanic eruption of AD 79.
The discovery will help shed light on the last years of Pompeii, i.e. the period of reconstruction after the earthquake, said the manager of the archaeological park, Gabriel Zuhtrigel, for the German agency dpa. transmissions H1.
According to archaeologists, this turtle is not the first to be discovered at the site. However, what is special about this specimen is that it was not found in the area of the garden, where the others were discovered.
"Obviously, not all the houses have been restored, and the central areas of the city are also rarely visited, so they have become a habitat for wildlife," Zuhtrigel said.
Scientists found an egg inside the turtle, prompting speculation that the turtle may have been digging to find a place to hatch it, Zuhtrigel said, adding that this is common for the testudo hermanni species.
The turtle was found in the area of the Stabia Thermal Baths in the Roman city, which was buried in ash, mud and lava in AD 79, which is why it was partially preserved.
Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century, and the archaeological site is now one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions.
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