AI Reveals Text in Ancient Vesuvius-Charred Scroll

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AI has made it possible for scientists to read words from a 2,000-year-old Herculaneum scroll. Which was buried by Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 AD.

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The scroll was carbonized by volcanic heat, turning it into a fragile lump of charcoal that would crumble if unrolled. Yet the scroll holds great secrets of the ancient time.

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Researchers at Diamond Light Source in Oxford used a powerful particle accelerator called a synchrotron to scan the scroll with high-energy X-rays.

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These X-rays penetrated the layers of the scroll without damaging it and allowed scientists to map its internal structure.

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The biggest challenge was distinguishing the carbon-based ink from the carbonized papyrus, as both appeared nearly identical.

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AI detected the tiny ink traces that were not visible to the human eye. It enhanced them digitally to unveil the hidden text.

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Scientists successfully identified several Greek words, including the term "διατροπή" which translates to 'disgust' in English.

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Scientists believe the ink contains lead, which may have made it more visible under scanning. Yet it requires deep research.

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This discovery is part of the Vesuvius Challenge, a project that aimed at unlocking the lost texts of Herculaneum’s ancient library.

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The breakthrough was made possible through the collaborative efforts between librarians, computer scientists, and scholars according to Richard Ovenden from Oxford's Bodleian Library.

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