Many of Pompeii's residents were stifled by the volcanic gases and falling ash that engulfed the city before they could escape. Their bodies did not survive the years, but a perfect "mold" was often left where the ash had settled around the corpses and solidified. A creative anthropologist came up with the idea of using the molds to make plaster casts, which could be eerily detailed. This man's clothing and his belt are plainly visible, along with the anguished expression on his face and in his body language.