Roman archaeology · Pompeii chronology
When did Vesuvius destroy Pompeii: August 24 or October 24, 79 CE?
A source ledger for the August-versus-autumn dating dispute, weighing Pliny's manuscripts against the charcoal inscription, seasonal finds, coins, and recent experimental work.
SOURCE BOUNDARY
One manuscript date meets several material clues
The traditional August 24 date comes from the transmitted text of Pliny the Younger. The October case draws on a charcoal graffito dated October 17, autumn produce and clothing, and other material observations. The weight of each clue depends on manuscript transmission, how long charcoal can remain legible, and whether an object is securely dated before the eruption.
VERSIONED RECORD
A chronology ledger with explicit confidence boundaries
The record separates the Latin date formula and manuscript tradition from the 2018 inscription, the coin-dating argument, seasonal material evidence, and later experiments on charcoal persistence. It records which observations support an autumn eruption and which only show that an August date is not the sole possible reading of the material record.
RESEARCH TASK
Question to resolve
When did Vesuvius erupt in 79 CE, and how should the August 24 and October 24 evidence be weighed?
Evidence requirements
Primary terms
Vesuvius eruption datePompeiiAugust 24October 24Pliny the YoungerXVI K NOVcharcoal inscriptionTitus coinTechnical objective
Reconstruct the competing eruption chronologies from textual transmission and material evidence while distinguishing a date clue from a conclusive terminus.
Success condition
The answer explains the Plinian date, the October 17 charcoal inscription, the relevant seasonal and numismatic evidence, later challenges, and why the final date remains an evidence-weighting question.
Search fingerprints
- nonum kal. Septembres manuscript reading
- Pompeii XVI K NOV charcoal inscription
- autumn produce, clothing, and wine evidence
- Titus IMP XV coin dating argument
- charcoal persistence and later August-date defense
AGENT EVIDENCE INDEX
Search the Vesuvius dating evidence ledger
Pliny manuscripts, Pompeii charcoal inscription, autumn material evidence, Titus coin dating, and eruption chronology
Read task llms.txt