Excavators find image of pizza’s possible precursor among Pompeii ruins

Pizza without mozzarella and tomato might not seem like pizza to Neapolitans, but a new discovery by archaeologists working among the ruins of Pompeii could offer a glimpse of an ancient version of the much-loved modern dish.

A fresco on the wall of a home in the destroyed Roman city shows a silver tray with food items including flat Focaccia bread, fruit and a goblet of red wine against a black background. The still life dates back approximately 2,000 years and “could be a distant ancestor” of pizza, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii said in a statement, adding that it was missing some classic ingredients of the dish.