The city of Pompeii was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79CE under 13-20 feet of pumice and ash.
The city was preserved by the ash which kept out the air and moisture until its excavation, which began in 1748.
Today it is preserved as an open air museum where tourists can walk through the remains of the forum, temples, brothels, shops and homes.
It is through these ruins and the human body cavities found therein that we know what the Romans looked like because their culture cremated rather than buried.
Archaeology Study Unit 