Pompeii

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Pompeii.  And if you lived in Pompeii in 79AD, you also ended up under a rock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii

2000 years ago, Pompeii was a flourishing Roman city.  Casca Longus, the guy who stabbed Julius Caesar, called it home.  

Then in the year 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius decided to explode and bury the city in 20 feet of ash.  The neat thing about that is that it was very well preserved.  It was re-discovered in 1749, almost 17 centuries later.

Statue of Apollo.

Outside the Amphitheater.

Inside the Amphitheater.

Original marble table and inlay.

Here's what the streets and buildings look like.  Imagine hanging out here when 20 feet of ash and lava landed on you.

The city was ancient even before it was buried.  Check out these cart tracks that have been worn into the stone streets.

The Grand Theater.  This is amazingly well preserved.

The original marble is still in place on the steps of the Theater.