The Herculaneum scrolls are ancient manuscripts buried and carbonized by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79. Recently, researchers used artificial intelligence and advanced imaging techniques to virtually “unroll” and read one of these scrolls for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.
They successfully generated the first image inside scroll PHerc. 172, one of three Herculaneum scrolls at the Bodleian Libraries. These strides mark a significant step forward in recovering texts from the ancient world.
The virtual unrolling process revealed a substantial part of the papyrus and about 26 lines of text per column. The first translated word, the Greek term διατροπή (‘disgust’), appeared twice within a few columns.
The scroll was scanned at the Diamond Light Source in July 2024, and the team has been enhancing text clarity using AI and a new segmentation approach.
The Oxford scroll, donated by Ferdinand IV in the early 19th century, is unique because its ink’s special chemical makeup makes it easier to read in X-ray scans. Researchers think the ink contains a denser contaminant like lead, which enhances its clarity. According to researchers, further testing is needed to identify the precise ‘recipe’ that has made the ink more legible than other scrolls in the Vesuvius Challenge.
The AI used in this project detects ink without understanding language, resembling 18th-century copyists who replicated text without comprehension. This approach maintains the original content’s integrity.
Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian and Director of University Libraries, highlighted the collaboration between librarians, computer scientists, and classical scholars. He praised the project for demonstrating how different fields can unite to uncover our shared past.
The Vesuvius Challenge, launched in 2023, invites global contributions to uncover the Herculaneum Scrolls’ contents. Co-founder Dr. Brent Seales expressed excitement about the recent imaging success and emphasized the ongoing work to enhance software methods for reading the scrolls.
This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in preserving and understanding ancient texts, offering a glimpse into the wisdom and knowledge of the past.
