Pompeii, frozen in time since Mount Vesuvius erupted in late August CE 79, holds a new mystery. Researchers from the University of Valencia’s ÁTROPOS group studied fourteen plaster casts of victims from Pompeii’s Porta Nola necropolis. Surprisingly, many victims wore thick wool tunics and cloaks—heavy layers unusual for a hot southern Italian summer. Experts analysed textile impressions and found the wool was thick and weighty, not light summer fabric. Wool was common and cheap in the Roman world, but wearing multiple layers in August raises questions. For centuries, Pliny the Younger’s letters placed the eruption in late August. Yet, archaeology showed signs of autumn fruits like pomegranates and walnuts, plus evidence of wine fermentation beyond summer levels. Some houses even had lit small heaters, adding to the puzzle. The wool clothing might not reflect cold weather but rather a protective response. The eruption was a long disaster with hours of ash and toxic gases darkening the skies. People may have grabbed nearby cloaks and layered up to shield themselves from ash. This explains why victims inside buildings and outside wore similar heavy clothes. The eruption didn’t destroy Pompeii instantly; some fled, others stayed. The plaster casts now offer forensic clues into their last moments. Something as simple as clothing might rewrite what we know about the eruption date written nearly 2,000 years ago.