Chemical analysis of the bones of 64 victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD, discovered in the ancient Roman town of Oplontis (modern-day Torre Annunziata), has revealed that the local population consumed very little fish, despite living near the sea. A study published on August 7, 2026, in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, conducted by the archaeological park of Pompeii and the University of Campania, found that most of their calories came from land-based foods such as bread, cereals, and dried vegetables. Researchers analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotopes in collagen from 46 of the 59 bones that still contained collagen. These findings challenge the common belief that living near the coast would naturally lead to a diet rich in seafood. The study found that marine products leave a distinct chemical signature in bones, which was nearly absent in the Oplontis victims. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological park of Pompeii, said this confirms that wheat and cereals played a central role in the daily diet of Romans in the region. Additionally, the nutritional differences between men and women were minimal, suggesting that access to food resources was not significantly affected by sex in this group. Archaeologists discovered over 1,400 amphorae—large clay jars used for storing liquids—in Villa B of Oplontis, indicating that the building was used for commercial activities. However, the occupants of room 10, likely refugees who had hoped to flee by sea, showed no signs of consuming food related to maritime trade or proximity to the water. This raises questions about how resources were distributed in Roman society, suggesting that being near the sea did not automatically grant access to fish. The researchers were surprised by the number of bodies found, with the final count of 64 individuals surpassing previous estimates in the literature. The study now raises the question of whether this low consumption of fish was unique to the Oplontis villa or reflected a broader dietary pattern across the region. Similar isotope studies at nearby sites like Herculaneum and Pompeii are expected to provide more insight. The findings suggest that geography does not always dictate diet, and despite the proximity to the sea, access to marine resources may have been more limited than previously thought.