Ceramic artifacts and materials dating to the 15th and 16th centuries have been unearthed in the Insula Meridionalis of Pompei, providing fresh evidence that the ancient site was not forgotten after the eruption of 79 AD but continued to see human activity well into the Renaissance. The local toponym "Civita" further attests to enduring community memory of a buried city, according to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompei Archaeological Park, who described the site as having always functioned as a "heritage community."
The discoveries coincide with the rediscovery of "The Deposition of Christ," attributed to Andrea Mantegna, in the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Pompei. The painting, documented in Naples' San Domenico Maggiore church until the 1520s, has been on display since November 2025 in the sanctuary's new pinacoteca following restoration at Vatican Museums laboratories.
Guided visits to the Insula Meridionalis excavation site are available by appointment on weekdays from 11:00 to 12:00.