The two cities on Italy's southern coast were buried following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.

BBC: British Museum to exhibit artefacts from buried cities

The Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, contains the vestiges of two flourishing cities and numerous villas that were engulfed in ashes and lava when Mount Vesuvius erupted on 24 August 79 AD, leaving the site buried until the beginning of excavations started in the middle of 18th centuries.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES