AI Decodes Ancient Secrets: Mount Vesuvius Scrolls Revealed

Published Date : 27/06/2025 

Artificial intelligence and advanced technology are helping researchers decipher ancient papyrus scrolls buried in the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. 

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way we understand ancient history, particularly with the discovery and decoding of papyrus scrolls buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This catastrophic event not only destroyed the city of Pompeii but also the nearby town of Herculaneum, where a significant archaeological find was made in the 18th century.

Deep beneath the surface of what was once a luxurious villa, archaeologists unearthed 1,800 papyrus scrolls, the only ancient library in the world that remains intact. However, early attempts to unroll these scrolls often ended in disaster, as the carbonized papyri crumbled into ashes. Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, explains the challenges faced by early researchers: 'People didn't understand what they had. So, some scrolls were actually thrown away or burned, and you can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again.'

Thanks to 21st-century technology, experts are now able to examine these scrolls without causing further damage. One of the key technologies used is a particle accelerator in England, which produces light 10 billion times brighter than the sun, similar to an X-ray. This advanced light technology, combined with artificial intelligence, allows scientists to identify even the faintest traces of ink within the scrolls.

Seales, inspired by the potential of this technology, launched the Vesuvius Challenge, a global competition offering $700,000 in prize money to teams that could decode the scrolls. Three college students made history by being the first to extract words from a carbonized scroll that had been virtually unwrapped, a document nearly 2,000 years old.

With hundreds more scrolls to go, Seales has launched a second phase of the competition. He is optimistic about the future of this research: 'With AI-inspired methods that are going to usher in new results we've not dreamed of, I don't think renaissance is too strong a word.' Seales believes there could be more scrolls waiting to be discovered, as the Villa of the Papyri, which has not been fully excavated, stands a high chance of producing more books.

The potential for new discoveries is immense, and the use of AI in archaeology is opening up new avenues for understanding the ancient world. As Seales points out, 'So much remains for us to discover.' 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the Vesuvius Challenge?

A: The Vesuvius Challenge is a global competition launched by Brent Seales, offering $700,000 in prize money to teams that can decode ancient papyrus scrolls from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Q: How did AI help in decoding the scrolls?

A: AI, combined with a particle accelerator that produces light 10 billion times brighter than the sun, was used to identify even the faintest traces of ink within the carbonized papyrus scrolls.

Q: Where were the scrolls found?

A: The scrolls were found in the 18th century deep beneath the surface of a villa in Herculaneum, near Mount Vesuvius.

Q: What is the significance of the Villa of the Papyri?

A: The Villa of the Papyri is an ancient site that has not been fully excavated and is believed to contain more papyrus scrolls, making it a significant location for future archaeological discoveries.

Q: Who made the first successful extraction of words from a carbonized scroll?

A: Three college students were the first to successfully extract words from a carbonized scroll that had been virtually unwrapped, a document nearly 2,000 years old. 

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