| Here we have another frozen glimpse of Pompeii's appalling last hours. During excavations of an ancient orchard, casts were obtained in 1961 by pouring plaster into the spaces left by decomposed bodies in what became known as the "Garden of the Fugitives." When the dirt was removed after the plaster had hardened, thirteen adults and children were found huddled together, making futile attempts to shield themselves from the onslaught of volcanic dust, pumice, stone, and ash. |
