The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD was one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. The eruption buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick layer of ash and pumice, killing thousands of people and preserving the cities and their people for centuries. The ash and pumice that had buried the cities solidified over time, preserving many of the artifacts, trinkets, and structures of Pompeii and Herculaneum to this day. Today, both cities are popular tourist destinations, and their ruins continue to be studied by archaeologists and historians alike.