UK Scientists Unlock Secrets of Ancient Vesuvius Scrolls Using AI

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UK researchers have achieved a significant milestone in deciphering 2,000-year-old papyrus scrolls charred by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Discovered in the 1750s in Herculaneum, these scrolls were rendered unreadable due to extreme heat and ash but were preserved over centuries. Scholars have been attempting to unroll and read the fragile artifacts for over 250 years.

The breakthrough was announced at the "Vesuvius Challenge," where tech executives offered prizes for advancements in this area. University of Kentucky computer scientist Brent Seales, a co-founder of the challenge, noted that researchers successfully generated the first image of the interior of one of the scrolls from Oxford University's Bodleian Library, revealing more recoverable text than previously detected in other Herculaneum scrolls.

Advanced imaging, facilitated by a synchrotron at Diamond Light Source using powerful X-rays, and artificial intelligence have enabled the virtual unrolling of the scroll. Though minimal text has been deciphered, including the ancient Greek term for "disgust," curators remain optimistic about improving image quality and revealing clearer text in the future.

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