A ground-breaking scientific feat has brought ancient words back to life nearly two millennia after they were lost to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Researchers have been awarded for their remarkable work in deciphering the long-lost scroll contents of Herculaneum using artificial intelligence.
Herculaneum, a close neighbor to Pompeii, was similarly devastated by the eruption. Jean-Christophe Courtil, a historian and lecturer in Latin language and literature at Toulouse-Jean-Jaurès University, emphasized how a mudflow entombed the city, protecting its contents from flames. Among the preserved artefacts is the “villa of the papyri,” housing the only intact ancient library known to mankind, boasting over 1800 papyrus scrolls.
The challenge historians faced was that unrolling these scrolls by hand would result in their destruction. Modern imaging technology stepped in, alongside AI, trained to discern the faded ink from the charred material, revealing previously unread philosophical texts. So far, a thousand characters relating to Plato’s Academy have been deciphered, likely penned by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus of Gadara.
An estimated 1.5 million words, likened to the volume of Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time,” remain to be uncovered. Courtil’s enthusiasm is palpable as he anticipates the wealth of knowledge these scrolls hold, much of which has never been read. The use of advanced technologies to uncover historical texts represents a significant leap forward in the field of archaeology and historical study.
Relevant Facts Not Mentioned in the Article:
– The eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred in 79 AD and is most famous for burying Pompeii; however, Herculaneum also experienced a similar fate. Unlike Pompeii, which was covered by volcanic ash, Herculaneum was buried under a flow of mud and volcanic material, which preserved the scrolls in a more carbonized state.
– The Villa of the Papyri, where the scrolls were discovered, was first excavated in the 1750s. Since then, the scrolls have posed a significant challenge to decipher due to their fragile and carbonized state.
– The techniques for revealing the texts on the Herculaneum papyri involve the use of X-ray phase-contrast tomography, which can scan the interior structures of the scrolls without unwrapping them.
– The application of artificial intelligence in reading these texts is particularly noteworthy as it combines the efforts of historians, scientists, linguists, and computer scientists.
Key Questions and Answers:
– What makes the Herculaneum papyri unique?
The Herculaneum papyri are unique because they form the only complete ancient library known to have survived to the present day, offering a direct glimpse into the past eras’ concepts and knowledge.
– Why can’t the scrolls be unrolled by hand?
The scrolls cannot be unrolled by hand because they are extremely fragile and carbonized due to the heat from the volcanic eruption, and an attempt to physically unfurl them would lead to their destruction.
Challenges and Controversies:
– The process of digitally unrolling the scrolls and deciphering ancient scripts is incredibly complex and requires sophisticated technology, which is expensive and not readily available to all researchers.
– There are controversies surrounding the interpretations of the texts, as different scholars might provide varying analyses based on their expertise and biases.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
– Advantages:
– This technology allows researchers to read texts that would otherwise remain inaccessible, unlocking ancient knowledge.
– The non-invasive nature of the technology ensures that precious artefacts are preserved for future generations.
– Disadvantages:
– There is a possibility of misinterpretation of the texts due to the AI’s reliance on modern algorithms and training sets that may not fully capture the nuances of ancient writing.
– The process is time-consuming and relies heavily on interdisciplinary collaboration, which can be logistically challenging.
Related Links:
For further reading on the science and history behind the work involving Herculaneum’s papyri, you might visit these links:
– National Research Council (CNR)
– European Union Website
– Archaeological Institute of America
Please note that only the domains have been provided, and the links are formatted to point to their respective main pages, ensuring validity.