AI unseals ancient wisdom from Vesuvius-buried Herculaneum scrolls
TL;DR
AI-powered “digital unwrapping” is helping researchers recover texts from carbonized scrolls damaged by Mount Vesuvius’ AD 79 eruption, shedding light on ethics, arts, human behavior and theology. About 10% of the scrolls have been read so far; breakthroughs began around 2023 with machine-learning methods, and a new $1 million prize aims to reward deciphering a complete scroll by June next year, as scholars push to unlock more of the ancient world’s ideas.
- Scientists reveal secrets of ancient scrolls burned by Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago NBC News
- Scientists have just unlocked the secrets of an ancient scroll torched by Mount Vesuvius The Washington Post
- Complete text of carbonised Herculaneum scroll unlocked for first time Reuters
- AI helps read papyrus scroll burnt to crisp during Vesuvius eruption | AI (artificial intelligence) The Guardian
- Ancient text charred by Vesuvius read for first time in 2,000 years The Times
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