22 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: The Dark Age of Ancient Scrolls Ends

Artificial intelligence, often envisioned for future applications, is now playing a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of the past. Researchers at the University of Oxford have achieved a groundbreaking feat by employing AI to decipher an ancient papyrus scroll that has perplexed scholars for over 250 years. This remarkable achievement marks a significant leap forward in archaeology, demonstrating the powerful synergy between modern technology and the study of ancient civilizations.

While AI has already revolutionized fields like medicine and astronomy, its integration into archaeology has been relatively nascent. However, this is rapidly changing, as AI proves to be an invaluable tool in historical discoveries. The recent breakthrough at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, in collaboration with the Vesuvius Challenge, exemplifies this transformative potential.

The scroll in question originated from Herculaneum, a Roman town devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Over the centuries, the papyrus scrolls found at the site had carbonized into fragile, unreadable fragments, presenting a formidable challenge to researchers. A crucial step forward occurred in July 2024 when the scroll housed at the Bodleian Library was non-destructively scanned using the Diamond Light Source, a synchrotron in Oxfordshire. This advanced scanning technique generated digital images of the scroll’s interior.

The key to this breakthrough lay in the distinct chemical composition of the ink used by the ancient scribe. Researchers discovered that the ink used in this particular scroll possessed a unique chemical composition, potentially containing lead, which made it more discernible in the X-ray scans compared to other Herculaneum scrolls.

The AI algorithms were specifically trained to identify these subtle signatures of the ink, effectively highlighting the areas where text was present. This targeted detection allowed researchers to differentiate between the blank papyrus and the faint traces of writing.

The AI’s primary function was to detect this distinct ink and highlight the concealed text within the ancient papyrus. It is important to note that the AI did not directly transcribe or translate the text. This crucial task was undertaken by expert paleographers from the Vesuvius Challenge. The AI served as an indispensable aid, revealing the faint, hidden characters that allowed human scholars to meticulously piece together the ancient Greek writing.

Credit: Vesuvius Challenge.

The scans unveiled columns of text, still challenging to interpret but offering tantalizing glimpses into the scroll’s content. Notably, the ancient Greek word “διατροπή,” meaning “disgust,” appeared twice in the initial scans. While these are early findings, they have generated immense excitement among scholars eager to unlock the full contents of this and other Herculaneum scrolls.

Dr. Brent Seales, co-founder of the Vesuvius Challenge, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled with the success of scanning this scroll at the Bodleian Library. This scroll contains more recoverable text than any other Herculaneum scroll scanned so far.” He also emphasized that significant work remains to refine their methods and fully decipher the contents.

The Vesuvius Challenge, a global initiative inviting public participation in decoding these ancient texts, underscores the collaborative spirit driving this historical endeavor. This achievement represents a monumental advancement in archaeological science, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with the secrets of the ancient world.

This successful collaboration between AI and archaeology heralds a new era in our understanding of ancient civilizations. While the complete decipherment of the Herculaneum scrolls is still underway, the potential for future discoveries using similar techniques is immense.

This partnership between technological innovation and historical inquiry provides a compelling model for future archaeological endeavors, promising to unveil further secrets buried within the relics of the past. The hope remains that we will soon be able to read the ancient texts that have remained hidden for millennia, with artificial intelligence serving as a key to unlocking these invaluable historical treasures.

University of Oxford

Cover Image Credit: Exterior of scroll PHerc. 172. Credit: Vesuvius Challenge.

Related Articles

Beheaded croc reveals ancient family secrets

10 March 2022

10 March 2022

A missing link in crocodilian evolution and a tragic tale of human-driven extinction. The partially fossilized remains of a giant...

Ancient Rome’s city borders were discovered in a rare stone

17 July 2021

17 July 2021

Archaeologists unearthed a rare stone outlining ancient Rome’s city borders during excavations for a new sewage system. The stone comes...

Gate sanctuary discovered during the excavation of Archanes palace in Crete, belonging to the oldest civilisation in Europe

24 October 2024

24 October 2024

Recent excavations at the Archanes Minoan palace in Crete, belonging to the oldest civilisation in Europe, have revealed an important...

Teacher unearthed stone with ancient ogham writing from Ireland in Coventry garden

9 May 2024

9 May 2024

A geography teacher, Graham Senior, stumbled across a rock with mysterious incisions while tidying his overgrown garden in Coventry, England. ...

Undeciphered Rongorongo Script from Easter Island may Predate European Colonization

12 February 2024

12 February 2024

From the depths of history, a wooden tablet bearing the mysterious “rongorongo” script has been unearthed from the small, remote...

Well-Preserved Funerary Enclosures, Mausoleums, and Gladiator Epitaph Discovered in Ancient Roman Colony of Liternum, Italy

22 March 2025

22 March 2025

Recent archaeological excavations in the ancient Roman colony of Liternum, located in present-day Giugliano in Campania, Italy, have unveiled significant...

Archaeologists explore Eastern Zhou Dynasty mausoleum in China’s Henan

30 January 2022

30 January 2022

An archaeological survey of a royal mausoleum of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.-256 B.C.) has been launched in central...

Detectorist Finds 2,500-Year-Old Unique Bronze Brooch

26 August 2024

26 August 2024

A metal detectorist, who chose to remain anonymous, uncovered three artifacts, including a massive fibula, i.e. a bronze brooch dating...

8,000-year-old Yarmukian ‘Mother Goddess’ figurine discovered in Israel

9 July 2022

9 July 2022

An 8,000-year-old Yarmukian Mother Goddess figurine was found at Sha’ar HaGolan archaeological site, located on the northern bank of the...

On the beach of Herculaneum, a victim of the Vesuvius explosion was discovered with his bag

4 December 2021

4 December 2021

Archaeologists released haunting images Wednesday of the skeletal remains of a man buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in...

Archaeologists discovered medieval Bury St Edmunds Abbey ‘Bishop Boy’ token in Norfolk

19 December 2023

19 December 2023

Archaeologists have discovered token in Norfolk in the East of England, dating from between 1470 and 1560, given to the...

Archaeologists identify three new Roman camps in Arabia

27 April 2023

27 April 2023

Through remote sensing analysis, archaeologists have identified three new Roman fortified camps throughout northern Arabia. Their study, released today in...

Unique 7,700-year-old figurines were discovered in Ulucak Mound, one of the oldest settlements in Western Anatolia

6 October 2023

6 October 2023

Ulucak Mound (Ulucak Höyük), one of the oldest neolithic settlements dating back to 6800 BC, male and female figurines evaluated...

‘Roman numerals’ discovered on Stone of Destiny ahead of King Charles III coronation

8 April 2023

8 April 2023

New research has revealed previously unrecorded markings that appear to be Roman numerals on the Stone of Destiny, considered one...

Huge funerary building and Fayoum portraits discovered in Egypt Fayoum

4 December 2022

4 December 2022

The Egyptian archaeological mission working in the Gerza archaeological site in Fayoum revealed a huge funerary building from the Ptolemaic...