A severely damaged scroll from the Roman town of Herculaneum has been digitally scanned to unveil its contents after 2,000 years. The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD left the document charred and unopenable. Using X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence, scientists have virtually unfurled the scroll, revealing text in rows and columns.
Although further work is required to fully decipher the text, the initial results are promising. Stephen Parsons, leading the Vesuvius Challenge project, expressed confidence in eventually reading the entire scroll. Some letters are already visible, indicating a potential philosophical work.
Hundreds of carbonized scrolls were unearthed in Herculaneum, similar to Pompeii, buried under volcanic ash. Previous attempts to open such scrolls resulted in disintegration. The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford houses some of these unreadable scrolls, kept dormant for decades due to preservation concerns.
Utilizing advanced technology at Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire, a synchrotron machine produced detailed X-ray scans. The data was processed through AI to differentiate layers within the scroll and identify ink. Successfully revealing portions of text, the team aims to unveil larger sections through digital enhancement.
A previous discovery by the Vesuvius Challenge team revealed a scroll on Greek Epicurean philosophy, hinting at similar teachings in the Bodleian's scroll. The researchers anticipate further insights with continued efforts combining human expertise and computational analysis.
Reflecting on the project, Nicole Gilroy emphasized the human connection embedded in these ancient artifacts, highlighting the intricate journey from creation to preservation.