In 79 CE, Mt. Vesuvius erupted, sending a 4 to 6 meter blanket of ash over the Roman town of Pompeii, sealing it from history for over 1600 years, and preserving a wealth of knowledge and archeological insight in spectacular condition. Since it's accidental re-discovery in the late 1700s, it has grown to one of the largest archeological tourist attractions on the planet, drawing around 2.5 million people per year.
Now, scientists say they've discovered a 'Chinese Pompeii'. It's not a city, and it's far older than Pompeii (300 million compared to 2,000)...so the comparison isn;t dead-on, but the preservation and insight into the time-period is unprecedented, just as Pompeii was a few hundred years ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17117223
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