Decode ancient scrolls in Vesuvius volcano with new technology

US scientists say they can decipher the content on ancient scrolls found in a library destroyed by volcano Vesuvius using new X-ray technology.

The Vesuvius volcano in Pompeii, Italy erupted in 79 AD destroying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as valuable assets of the people, one of which is the library Villa de Papyri.

Scientists still harbor hope for deciphering the fragile documents found in libraries after the first failure.

Initial experiments using X-ray technology failed because the paper burned to charcoal. They hope to succeed with a new approach with the use of high-energy X-rays combined with artificial intelligence.

"Although you can see on each of the papyrus scrolls that have the words, opening it (without tearing) requires a lot of flexibility and lightness or there will be nothing left to read," Professor Brent said. Seales, the Dean of Computer Science at the University of Kentucky, said.

One of the Herculaneum scrolls is hoping to read with new technology.(Photo: PA).

Two unopened scrolls will be tested by the Institute de France in Paris. They are part of an incredible collection of about 1,800 rolls first discovered in 1752 during the excavation of Herculaneum.

Decoding them contributed to the creation of the only intact library known since ancient times. Most of the collection is currently preserved in a museum in Naples.

The Villa de Papyri Library was found to be owned by father-in-law Julius Caesar, the Roman leader who was assassinated in 44 BC.

Experts have been trying to decode half of the rolls using various methods over the years. Several rolls were destroyed during the decoding process.

Previously, Professor Seales and his team used high-energy X-rays to read a 1,700-year Hebrew scroll found at a synagogue at En-Gedi in Israel.

However, X-rays show that the old En-Gedi scroll uses regular metal ink and the Herculaneum scroll uses carbon ink made from coal or soot. Therefore, the contrast is clearly different between the two old paper rolls.

Professor Brent Seales (second from the left) and the team are responsible for reading the scrolls.(Photo: Diamond Light Source Ltd).

As a result, the team has come up with a new method that uses high-energy X-rays in combination with a form of artificial intelligence called machine learning.

This method applies to paragraphs where writing is visible to the naked eye. It uses machine learning algorithms to classify areas of ink and empty space and then scans with X-rays.

The expert team is expected to apply this method over the next few months.

"First we hope we can perfect the new technology to apply it with 900 intact rolls , " Mr. Seales said.

"Much of the content in the open rolls was Greek philosophy revolving around Epicureanism, the philosophical system prevailing at that time," he added.

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