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Herculaneum

All articles tagged with #herculaneum

science18 days ago•186 min saved

AI unrolls a 2,000-year-old Herculaneum scroll, revealing Stoic texts

A carbonized papyrus scroll from Herculaneum, PHerc. 1667, has been virtually unwrapped and partially deciphered using AI and CT scans as part of the Vesuvius Challenge. Researchers were able to reveal almost 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) of text across 20 columns, dating to the 2nd–3rd centuries BC and likely containing Stoic ethical discussions. The breakthrough, led by Brent Seales and collaborators, marks the first time such a scroll has been read without destructive physical unrolling, offering new insights into ancient philosophy and the scrolls’ history (including references to Philodemus).

via CNN|

#artificial-intelligence #herculaneum #papyrus-scrolls

science18 days ago•4 min saved

AI unseals ancient wisdom from Vesuvius-buried Herculaneum scrolls

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.

via NBC News|

#ai #ancient-scrolls #herculaneum

history1 year ago•4 min saved

AI and X-rays Unveil 2,000-Year-Old Hidden Roman and Greek Scrolls

Using advanced AI and X-ray imaging, researchers have made significant progress in reading charred scrolls from Herculaneum, potentially revealing lost ancient Greek and Latin writings, including philosophical works, without damaging the fragile artifacts.

via Earth.com|

#ai #ancient-texts #herculaneum

archaeology-and-science2 years ago•4 min saved

"AI Deciphers 2000-Year-Old Philosopher's Charred Scrolls from Mount Vesuvius Eruption"

Researchers are using new technology to virtually unwrap charred Herculaneum scrolls, revealing nearly complete passages from the philosopher Philodemus, while a study suggests Saturn's moon Mimas may have a hidden ocean, potentially changing our understanding of ocean worlds in the solar system. Additionally, Australian scientists are using spiderwebs to track endangered species, a serene image of a polar bear wins the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award, and the treacherous Drake Passage remains a challenge for ship captains ferrying tourists.

via CNN|

#ancient-scrolls #archaeology-and-science #herculaneum

archaeology2 years ago•3 min saved

"AI Deciphers Ancient Herculaneum Scrolls After 2,000 Years"

Archeologists have used artificial intelligence to decipher some of the ancient text from the Herculaneum papyri, a collection of around 1,000 scrolls carbonized during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A global competition, the Vesuvius Challenge, offered $1 million in prizes to anyone who could find a way to read the remaining closed scrolls, most of which are preserved in a library in Naples. A team of three students won the $700,000 grand prize after training machine-learning algorithms on scans and were able to read 2,000 letters from the scroll, revealing new text from the ancient world that has never been seen before. This breakthrough has been hailed as revolutionary by experts in the field.

via NBC News|

#ai #ancient-scrolls #archaeology

archaeology2 years ago•3 min saved

AI Deciphers Ancient Scrolls Burned by Vesuvius

Researchers have used artificial intelligence to extract the first word from an ancient scroll that was burned by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. The scroll, part of a collection held by the Institut de France, was found to contain the ancient Greek word "πορφύραc" meaning "purple". The discovery was made as part of the Vesuvius challenge, which aims to accelerate the reading of the carbonised scrolls. The researchers are now working to read the surrounding text and uncover the contents of the scroll.

via The Guardian|

#ai #ancient-scrolls #archaeology

science3 years ago•7 min saved

Mount Vesuvius' Eruption Turned Victims' Brains to Glass, Study Finds.

A new study has revealed the devastating impact of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 on inhabitants of Herculaneum. Researchers have found evidence that 'pyroclastic currents' hit the small Roman town, vaporising inhabitants within minutes. While most bodies at Herculaneum were swiftly reduced to piles of ash, scientists have previously found human tissue that was transformed to glass by the event. One man's brain had been burned at a very high temperature, before quickly cooling, turning it into a form of glass – a process known as vitrification.

via Daily Mail|

#archaeology #herculaneum #mount-vesuvius

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Vesuvius' pyroclastic blast turned brains to glass, explaining poor preservation of bodies near Pompeii.

Geologists from the University of Roma Tre have discovered that a pyroclastic current struck Herculaneum shortly after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, vaporizing the people living there and explaining why their bodies were not well preserved. The people of Pompeii were buried alive in ash. The geologists collected carbonized wood samples from Herculaneum and found evidence of a very hot gas for a very short period of time, which suggests exposure to a diluted pyroclastic density current. The team suggests their findings should serve as a warning for modern citizens of Naples.

via Phys.org|

#geology #herculaneum #preservation

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Vesuvius' Detached Ash Cloud Surges Caused Deadly Thermal Impact in 79CE.

A new study reveals that the initial wave of hot gas from the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii turned people's brains to glass due to the extreme heat of 550°C. The nearby town of Herculaneum was engulfed in a diluted pyroclastic density current (PDC) that brought instant death and destruction. The event left only a few decimeters of ash on the ground, which may explain why it had never been detected until now. The study authors say their findings may have implications for the modern inhabitants of nearby Naples should Vesuvius erupt again.

via IFLScience|

#glass-brains #herculaneum #mount-vesuvius