The Herculaneum scroll PHerc. 172, stored at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, was burned in Mount Vesuvius' eruption. It is the fifth intact scroll to be digitally unrolled through the Vesuvius Challenge. CNN
Researchers are making history by decoding a scroll that was burned during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The scroll, housed at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, is the fifth intact Herculaneum scroll to be virtually unrolled as part of the Vesuvius Challenge. This initiative aims to unlock ancient knowledge from the carbonized scrolls buried in the disaster.
By using artificial intelligence and advanced imaging technology, the Vesuvius Challenge team has successfully uncovered text within the scroll, known as PHerc. 172. On Wednesday, the library group confirmed that they have begun interpreting its contents.
One of the first words translated from the ancient Greek script was διατροπή, which means "disgust." The word appears twice within a few columns of text. This discovery marks a significant step in recovering lost writings from ancient Rome and Greece.
According to experts, the Oxford scroll has yielded the most readable text of any Herculaneum scroll scanned so far. The research team has been able to outline the structure of the scroll, analyze its ink composition, and generate detailed images of the text.
Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s librarian, called the breakthrough “an incredible moment in history.” He emphasized the collaboration between librarians, computer scientists, and classical scholars, noting that AI and imaging technology are allowing researchers to read texts that have been sealed for nearly 2,000 years.
The Oxford scroll has the most readable text among all Herculaneum scrolls scanned so far. The image shows the scroll’s structure at the top, a photograph on the left, and ink detection along with early transcriptions in the center and right. CNN
Deciphering Ancient Texts with AI
Physically opening these fragile scrolls is impossible, as they would crumble to dust. Instead, scientists are using high-tech scanning methods to virtually "unwrap" them. Professor Brent Seales, a computer scientist and co-founder of the Vesuvius Challenge, explained that the Oxford scroll has been the most successful case so far because its ink is more visible in X-ray scans.
Experts suspect that the ink contains a denser element, possibly lead, which makes it stand out against the dark carbonized papyrus. Further tests will determine the exact composition of the ink, which could help researchers decode other scrolls more easily.
Despite the major breakthrough, Seales emphasized that much work remains. The AI software being used does not directly translate the text but enhances the visibility of the ink. Human scholars, particularly from the University of Oxford, will still be responsible for transcription and interpretation.
The research team is now working on refining the images to reveal more lines of text. They hope to eventually reach the innermost layers of the scroll, where the title of the work might be preserved.
