Herculaneum was subject to the enormous volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. It was covered by a large river of volcanic mud, preserving a great proportion of the site ruins (destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 63). The site was rediscovered in 1709, much of what was excavated being carried away to sit in the houses of wealthy Naples residents. Proper archaeological is said to have started in 1927. Herculaneum was a sleepy fishing town and is estimated to have had a population of approximately 4000 people.