Ancient Herculaneum Scroll Revealed After Two Millennia

A team of scientists has successfully "unwrapped" a charred scroll from Herculaneum, providing unprecedented insights into its contents after 2,000 years, thanks to advanced imaging and AI technologies.

A groundbreaking venture has unveiled part of an ancient scroll from Herculaneum, which had been rendered almost completely unreadable due to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. The scroll, resembling a block of charcoal, was subjected to sophisticated X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence techniques that allowed researchers to virtually unfurl its contents without physically damaging the fragile material.

Stephen Parsons, the lead on the Vesuvius Challenge, a global initiative aimed at deciphering the Herculaneum scrolls, is optimistic about finally being able to read almost the entire scroll. He stated that while the work is ongoing, some letters have started to emerge clearly, indicating that it might contain philosophical writings.

The scroll, along with hundreds of others, was discovered in the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, buried by the same volcanic disaster that engulfed Pompeii. Previously, attempts to open such scrolls resulted in their destruction. Nicole Gilroy, head of book conservation at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, expressed that their prior concerns about the safety and efficacy of digital techniques have now proven unfounded, paving the way for this innovative research.

Utilizing the massive Diamond Light Source facility in Oxfordshire, scientists directed a powerful X-ray beam into the scroll, achieving detailed imaging effectively at the microscopic level. This complex process involves constructing a 3D model of the scroll's layers, allowing researchers to identify and digitally unfurl each segment of the papyrus, which encompasses nearly 10 meters of text.

The AI technology is critical here, as both the ink used for writing and the papyrus itself are carbon-based and nearly indistinguishable. The AI looks for subtle differences to identify the ink and digitally “paint” it on the reconstructed layers, revealing sections of the text.

According to Stephen Parsons, the scroll contains numerous passages waiting to be uncovered. Following the success of a previous project that read 5% of another scroll, which focused on Greek Epicurean philosophy, there is a strong likelihood that the Bodleian scroll will cover similar themes, but further analysis is required to confirm its content.

For Gilroy, the project is more than just scientific progress; it’s about connecting with the human stories behind the scrolls themselves, offering a poignant glimpse into the thoughts and lives of those who wrote them thousands of years ago.