Archaeologists Unearth 'Bakery-Prison' in Pompeii, Shedding Light on Harsh Life of Enslaved People

The cramped bakery, part of a larger dwelling undergoing renovations, was discovered with the remains of three victims, indicating the home was still occupied when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.

• Archaeologists have discovered a 'bakery-prison' in the ruins of Pompeii where enslaved people and donkeys were confined and forced to grind grain for bread production.
• The bakery, part of a larger dwelling, was a cramped space with a single window that opened not to the outside world but to another room in the house, and was crossed with iron bars.
• Markings on the bakery's floor were used to guide the enslaved workers and blindfolded animals in a circle to keep the millstones moving.
• The discovery provides a grim glimpse into the harsh living conditions of enslaved people in ancient Pompeii, who made up most of the population and whose labor propped up the city's economy.
• The dwelling was undergoing renovations when it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., but the remains of three victims were found in one of the bakery's rooms, indicating the home still had occupants.

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