Scientists have successfully penetrated the heart of a charred ancient scroll from Herculaneum, offering a unique insight into its contents nearly 2,000 years after its destruction.
First Peek into the Charred Herculaneum Scroll Reveals Glimpses of Ancient Philosophy
First Peek into the Charred Herculaneum Scroll Reveals Glimpses of Ancient Philosophy
Breakthrough digital techniques unveil century-old secrets hidden within volcanic wreckage.
In the Roman town of Herculaneum, an ancient scroll, thought to be forever sealed in charred remains from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, has been digitally resurrected. The scroll, resembling a piece of coal, has evaded physical unraveling due to its extreme fragility. However, a groundbreaking application of X-ray imaging combined with artificial intelligence has allowed researchers to virtually "unroll" it, revealing a wealth of text hidden within.
While researchers are still working to fully decode its message, initial investigations indicate that it may contain significant philosophical writings. Stephen Parsons, who leads the Vesuvius Challenge—a collaborative effort to decipher these ancient scrolls—expressed optimism about the findings. “We are confident we will be able to read the scroll in its entirety more than ever before," he noted, emphasizing that some letters are already visible.
The scroll is part of a larger trove of carbonized texts found in Herculaneum, much like those in the neighboring Pompeii, both sites deeply buried under layers of volcanic ash. Traditionally, attempts to salvage the scrolls would lead to disastrous results, often reducing them to dust. Yet, as Nicole Gilroy, head of book conservation at the Bodleian Library, remarked, the reliable innovations in technology granted the researchers a fresh attempt to access these relics of history.
After being carefully removed from decades of obscurity, the scroll was taken to the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire, where it underwent intricate scanning via a powerful synchrotron X-ray beam, capable of detecting minute details without causing harm. Recovery involves piecing together around 10 meters of papyrus into 3D layers to identify and digitally unroll it.
Through advanced AI techniques, the project team is now striving to differentiate between the ink and the burnt papyrus, a significant technical hurdle since both materials share carbon as their primary component. After detection, digital reconstruction paints the previously hidden letters into visible form.
"The entire scroll is filled with text," Parsons reaffirmed. As they refine these technologies, researchers hope to transition from recognizing a few words to uncovering substantial passages. Preliminary efforts last year managed to decipher about 5% of another scroll, which revolved around Greek Epicurean philosophy—a notion that seeks happiness in everyday pleasures. Early indications suggest that the Bodleian scroll may tread similar philosophical waters.
Gilroy underscores the emotional dimension of this endeavor, connecting us to the ancient people who once interacted with these scrolls. “There’s a true human aspect to it that I find incredibly precious,” she expressed, echoing the sentiments felt by many in the field of archaeology and ancient history.
While researchers are still working to fully decode its message, initial investigations indicate that it may contain significant philosophical writings. Stephen Parsons, who leads the Vesuvius Challenge—a collaborative effort to decipher these ancient scrolls—expressed optimism about the findings. “We are confident we will be able to read the scroll in its entirety more than ever before," he noted, emphasizing that some letters are already visible.
The scroll is part of a larger trove of carbonized texts found in Herculaneum, much like those in the neighboring Pompeii, both sites deeply buried under layers of volcanic ash. Traditionally, attempts to salvage the scrolls would lead to disastrous results, often reducing them to dust. Yet, as Nicole Gilroy, head of book conservation at the Bodleian Library, remarked, the reliable innovations in technology granted the researchers a fresh attempt to access these relics of history.
After being carefully removed from decades of obscurity, the scroll was taken to the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire, where it underwent intricate scanning via a powerful synchrotron X-ray beam, capable of detecting minute details without causing harm. Recovery involves piecing together around 10 meters of papyrus into 3D layers to identify and digitally unroll it.
Through advanced AI techniques, the project team is now striving to differentiate between the ink and the burnt papyrus, a significant technical hurdle since both materials share carbon as their primary component. After detection, digital reconstruction paints the previously hidden letters into visible form.
"The entire scroll is filled with text," Parsons reaffirmed. As they refine these technologies, researchers hope to transition from recognizing a few words to uncovering substantial passages. Preliminary efforts last year managed to decipher about 5% of another scroll, which revolved around Greek Epicurean philosophy—a notion that seeks happiness in everyday pleasures. Early indications suggest that the Bodleian scroll may tread similar philosophical waters.
Gilroy underscores the emotional dimension of this endeavor, connecting us to the ancient people who once interacted with these scrolls. “There’s a true human aspect to it that I find incredibly precious,” she expressed, echoing the sentiments felt by many in the field of archaeology and ancient history.
