Bones of animals killed at Pompeii. The Roman city of Pompeii, located in the Bay of Naples, Italy, was ruined and buried under thick layers of ash during an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 AD. Many of those buried under the ash were killed by falling buildings or other causes, such as the poisonous fumes that killed this animal. The city was rediscovered and excavated in the 18th and 19th centuries, revealing much about the Roman way of life. The remains and impressions of over 1000 humans victims of the eruption have been found within the ash deposits, along with animal remains. Earlier remains were destroyed by the plaster casts used to take impressions, but newer techniques preserve the bones.