First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2,000 years

In the year 79AD, a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum under layers of volcanic ash. Among the many artifacts lost to time were a collection of scrolls made from papyrus, a thick paper-like material. One of these scrolls, which has been severely charred and resembles a lump of charcoal, has recently been the focus of scientific investigation. Thanks to advancements in technology, particularly X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence, researchers have been able to digitally 'unwrap' this ancient document for the first time in 2,000 years. The scroll is about 15 centimeters long and 3 centimeters wide, and it is currently housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The team of scientists working on this project is part of an initiative known as the Vesuvius Challenge, which aims to unlock the secrets of the Herculaneum scrolls. Stephen Parsons, the project lead, expressed optimism about their ability to read the scroll, stating, 'We are confident we will be able to read pretty much the whole scroll in its entirety. ' This is a significant statement, as it marks a breakthrough in the study of these ancient texts. The researchers have already identified some letters and believe that the scroll may contain philosophical writings, possibly related to Greek Epicurean philosophy, which emphasizes the pursuit of happiness through the enjoyment of simple pleasures. The process of revealing the text within the scroll is complex and requires the use of a synchrotron, a powerful machine located at Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. This machine accelerates electrons to nearly the speed of light, producing a strong X-ray beam capable of penetrating the scroll without causing any damage. Adrian Mancuso, the director of physical sciences at Diamond, explained that the X-ray scans create a 3D reconstruction of the scroll, allowing researchers to identify the different layers of papyrus. 'We have to work out which layer is different from the next layer so we can unroll that digitally,' he said. Once the layers are identified, artificial intelligence is employed to detect the ink, which is particularly challenging because both the ink and the papyrus are made from carbon and appear very similar. The AI searches for subtle signals that indicate the presence of ink, and then it digitally highlights the letters, making them visible. The scroll is extremely fragile, and handling it requires great care. Nicole Gilroy, the head of book conservation, noted that previous attempts to open the scrolls resulted in them crumbling into pieces. However, the promise of this new technology has allowed the team to cautiously explore the contents of the scroll without risking its integrity. The researchers are excited about the potential to uncover more text and are hopeful that they will soon be able to read substantial passages. Last year, a different team participating in the Vesuvius Challenge managed to read about 5% of another Herculaneum scroll, which also dealt with Greek philosophy. The current team is eager to see if the scroll they are studying shares similar themes. For Gilroy, this work is not just about uncovering ancient texts; it is about connecting with the people who lived in that time. 'There's a real human aspect to it that I just think is really precious,' she said, reflecting on the significance of these ancient writings and the stories they hold.