AI helps read ancient papyrus scroll burnt by Vesuvius eruption

The surviving part of an ancient scroll that was burnt to a crisp when Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago has been virtually unwrapped and read with help from artificial intelligence. Researchers uncovered 20 columns of previously hidden text covering more than a metre of charred papyrus without physically unrolling the scroll. The work discusses stoic philosophy on ethics, art and human behaviour and dates to the second or late-third century BC.

Researchers used AI to help them read the ancient text, which was previously inaccessible due to its fragile state. The scroll is one of many that were preserved in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city was buried under volcanic ash and pumice, and many of its inhabitants were killed.

The text revealed by the AI-powered technique is significant because it provides new insights into the philosophical ideas of the ancient Greeks. The scroll appears to be a treatise on Stoic philosophy, which emphasized reason, self-control, and inner strength. The text covers a range of topics, including ethics, art, and human behavior.

The use of AI to read ancient texts is a rapidly growing field, with researchers using machine learning algorithms to analyze and interpret damaged or deteriorated texts. This technique has the potential to unlock a wealth of new information about the ancient world, and could have significant implications for our understanding of history and culture. Why this matters: The ability to read ancient texts without physically unrolling them could revolutionize the field of classical studies, allowing researchers to access and analyze fragile or damaged texts that were previously inaccessible.

This could have significant implications for our understanding of ancient cultures and civilizations, and could lead to new discoveries and insights into the history of philosophy, art, and science. For developers, this technology could have applications in areas such as document analysis and digital preservation. For businesses, it could provide new opportunities for cultural tourism and education.

And for consumers, it could provide a new window into the past, allowing us to better understand the ideas and achievements of ancient civilizations. However, there are also open questions about the ethics of using AI to analyze and interpret cultural artifacts, and about the potential risks and challenges associated with this technology.