- Ancient historical records: The Roman historians Tacitus and Pliny the Younger wrote about the eruption in their works, providing eyewitness accounts and descriptions of the events.
- Archaeological evidence: Excavations in Pompeii have uncovered the ruins of the city, including well-preserved buildings, homes, and artifacts. These findings show the suddenness and intensity of the eruption, as people and objects were frozen in time by the ash and pumice that covered the city.
- Geological evidence: The eruption is associated with the nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius. Volcanic ash and pumice found in Pompeii match the composition of Mount Vesuvius, indicating that it was the source of the eruption.
- Tree-ring analysis: Scientists have used tree-ring analysis to date the eruption. By studying the growth rings of trees near Pompeii, they were able to determine that the eruption occurred during the summer of 79 AD.