Archaeologists find 38 bronze coins and childhood charms in Pompeii cupboard
The discovery of a 2,000-year-old wooden cupboard reveals personal belongings and protective amulets from an ancient Roman household.
Italian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a wooden cupboard in Pompeii that had been sealed since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The cupboard was reconstructed from traces found in a house on Via dell'Abbondanza, one of the city's busiest streets.
The collection included 38 bronze coins kept in a small woven plant-material container. Other items found inside were cooking vessels, an incense burner, tweezers, and a glass bottle potentially used for ointment or perfume.
Archaeologists also found a necklace containing at least 24 tiny charms made of bone, glass plate, earthenware, and rock crystal. These objects, known as crepundia, featured miniature representations of gods like Mercury and Bes, as well as pine cones and grapes.
These charms served as protective amulets for Roman children and could function as rattles. While the owners' identities are unknown, the presence of the necklace suggests it may have held sentimental value.
A small wooden box containing lead weights was also recovered, which may indicate the residents were involved in trade. Pompeii Archaeological Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said the find allows archaeologists to connect different traces of an individual's life.
The fact that money and personal items remained in the cupboard suggests residents may not have had time to collect them before the eruption. The house was originally excavated in 1912, but recent exploration of the rooms behind it led to this discovery.