introduction when he and his followers were being pursued by the Romans.Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748,but systematic excavation did not begin until 1860.About 2000 skeletons were found in hollowsleft in the ash by the bodies of the victims.The archeologists poured plaster of Paris into these hollows and so made plaster casts of men,women,children and domestic animals,looking exactly as they had at the moment of death.Many of them had their hands or cloths in their mouths,indicating that they were trying to protect themselves from the poisonous gas.Several were found clutching bags of coins and other valuables. (the end of the introduction)when he and his followers were being pursued by the Romans. Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748,but systematic excavation did not begin until 1860. About 2000 skeletons were found in hollows left in the ash by the bodies of the victims. The archeologists poured plaster of Paris into these hollows and so made plaster casts of men, women, children and domestic animals, looking exactly as they had at the moment of death. Many of them had their hands or cloths in their mouths, indicating that they were trying to protect themselves from the poisonous gas. Several were found clutching bags of coins and other valuables. (the end of the introduction) introduction