AI helps read papyrus scroll burnt to crisp during Vesuvius eruption
Previously hidden text revealed without unrolling scroll discusses stoic philosophy on ethics, art and human behaviour...
News Desk
Staff Writer
Published
Jun 25, 2026
Source
The Guardian
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AI Insight:This breakthrough in deciphering ancient texts highlights the potential of AI to uncover previously unknown knowledge and shed new light on historical events.
A team of researchers has successfully employed artificial intelligence to unravel the secrets of a papyrus scroll that was severely damaged during the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The scroll, which was previously thought to be irreparably damaged, has revealed previously hidden text that discusses the stoic philosophy on ethics, art, and human behavior. The AI-powered technique used to decipher the text involved a combination of machine learning algorithms and computer vision, which enabled the researchers to accurately reconstruct the damaged areas and reveal the hidden text. This discovery is not only significant for the field of ancient history but also highlights the potential of AI to uncover new knowledge and shed new light on historical events that were previously thought to be lost forever.