Lead Ink Screening Speeds Up Reading Herculaneum Scrolls
Researchers behind the Vesuvius Challenge validated a screening method by creating model Herculaneum papyri with varying lead-based inks, carbonizing them to mimic the originals, then using CT/X-ray imaging and AI to identify strong lead-ink signatures. A handheld XRF scanner can quickly flag the most promising scrolls for deeper analysis, potentially accelerating decipherment of the ancient texts.