AI decodes ancient Vesuvius scrolls charred by volcano

The use of artificial intelligence coupled with advanced scanning technology has produced the first visible text from ancient papyrus scrolls carbonized by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 A.D.

Key breakthrough: Researchers have successfully generated the first internal images of a Herculaneum scroll held at Oxford‘s Bodleian Library using a combination of AI and advanced X-ray technology.

• The scroll was scanned using a particle accelerator at Diamond Light Source laboratory near Oxford
• AI technology helped piece together images, detect ink, and enhance text clarity
• A 3D image allowed for virtual unrolling of the scroll through a process called segmentation
• One of the few deciphered words so far is the ancient Greek term for “disgust”

Historical context: The scrolls were discovered in the 1750s in the ruins of a Roman villa in Herculaneum, preserved but rendered unreadable by the volcanic eruption that destroyed both Herculaneum and Pompeii.

• Hundreds of papyrus scrolls were found in what’s known as the Villa of the Papyri
• The scrolls have been compressed to the size of candy bars
• Previous attempts to physically unroll the scrolls led to their destruction
• The vast majority of the scrolls are housed at the National Library of Naples

Technical approach: The “Vesuvius Challenge” competition, backed by tech executives in 2023, aims to use modern technology to unlock these ancient texts.

• Machine learning, computer vision, and geometry are being employed to decipher the scrolls
• The project combines artificial intelligence with human expertise
• University of Kentucky computer scientist Brent Seales co-founded the challenge
• Researchers believe image quality and text legibility can still be improved

Future implications: The development of portable scanning technology could enable the examination of approximately 1,000 additional scrolls stored in Naples.

• Peter Toth, Curator of Greek Collections at the Bodleian, emphasizes the need for improved imaging
• Researchers are working to develop mobile scanning solutions to avoid transporting fragile scrolls
• Scholars worldwide are being invited to participate in the text decipherment effort

Beyond the breakthrough: While this advancement represents a significant step forward in accessing ancient knowledge, the project’s success ultimately depends on developing more sophisticated AI interpretation tools and expanding the technical capabilities to handle the remaining scrolls safely.