How were life-sized Roman sculptures preserved for 2,000 years in Pompeii?

The answer

In 2025, archaeologists in Pompeii found two life-sized sculptures of a man and woman at the necropolis of Porta Sarno, created between 133 and 31 BCE. The statues, thought to depict a married couple, survived the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD that buried the city under meters of volcanic ash. Their preservation is remarkable - most Pompeiian sculptures were either looted in antiquity or damaged by the eruption. The Porta Sarno necropolis, located just outside the ancient city walls, continues to yield surprises and remains only partially excavated, suggesting more significant discoveries may still be buried beneath.