Inscription suggests Pompeii eruption in Oct, not Aug

(ANSA) - Naples, October 16 - A charcoal inscription uncovered during new excavations at Pompeii backs the theory that the Mount Vesuvius eruption that destroyed the ancient Roman city took place in October of 79 AD, not August. The inscription is dated the 16th day before the calends of November - i.e. October 17.
    It is the latest in a series of important finds made during recent excavations of the Regio V section of Pompeii.
    "It is an extraordinary discovery," Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli. "The new excavations demonstrate the exceptional skill of our country".