Carpenter’s workshop — with 2,000-year-old tools — unearthed at Pompeii, photos show

The remains of a carpenter’s workshop — dating back approximately 2,000 years — were recently unearthed in Pompeii, officials said.

Discovered in a villa in the suburb of Civita Giuliana, the workshop was excavated with a unique casting method, according to a June 4 news release from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., it blanketed the city in a thick layer of ash, which hardened over time. Organic material encased in the ash, such as human remains or wooden objects, eventually disintegrated, leaving behind empty spaces.

By filling the voids found in the room with plaster, archaeologists created detailed molds of the objects that once filled the space.

Among the objects found were a chest, rope, pieces of wood, an amphorae and a saw, officials said.

A bed and a partial bed frame were also located in the room.

The well-preserved space was likely used to manufacture furniture, as well as other objects from wood, rope and fabric.

It is believed to have been occupied by slaves, officials said.

Slaves in the ancient Roman city came from a variety of backgrounds, according to the archaeological park. Some were prisoners of war or victims of piracy, while others were born into enslavement.

In Pompeii, they worked in homes, businesses and farms, typically under grueling conditions.

Last year, a slave bedroom, which was cramped and filled with rodent remains, was unearthed from Pompeii, McClatchy News reported.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Carpenter’s workshop — with 2,000-year-old tools — unearthed at Pompeii, photos show."