Today in History: August 24-25, 79 AD

Mount Vesuvius erupted in Campania, south-central Italy, covering Pompeii with ash and Herculaneum with mud, thus preserving these two famous archaeological sites.  Note: neither city was covered with LAVA.  If they had been, we wouldn't be able to dig there today.

OK, callously amusing graphic (via a fellow history nerd) after the fold.