Pompeii and Herculaneum (18th Century onwards)

The rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century revolutionized archaeology by providing an unprecedented snapshot of Roman life frozen in time by Mount Vesuvius' 79 AD eruption. These perfectly preserved cities revealed intact buildings, vivid frescoes, and haunting plaster casts of victims, offering extraordinary insights into ancient urban planning, art, and daily routines. The sites became archaeological laboratories, pioneering excavation techniques while transforming our understanding of Roman civilization. From perfectly preserved loaves of bread to elaborate mosaics, these time capsules continue yielding discoveries that reshape historical knowledge about the ancient world's sophistication.