AI reads 1900-year-old ancient papyri texts for the first time! Even humans failed at deciphering it
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Ancient Herculaneum Scrolls
Papyrus scrolls buried in ash after Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 AD have been successfully deciphered for the first time, employing artificial intelligence technology.
The Herculaneum Papyri Collection
The Herculaneum papyri consist of approximately 1,800 scrolls, preserved alongside various relics in the aftermath of the volcanic catastrophe.
Decades-Long Challenge
Despite numerous attempts, efforts to unravel and interpret the scrolls, stored in Naples, had previously proven futile due to their delicate condition.
Breakthrough by Students
Three students, Youssef Nader, Luke Farritor, and Julian Schilliger, utilizing coding machines powered by AI, managed to decode 15 columns of text from a single scroll.
Vesuvius Challenge Contest
The successful decryption was achieved under the Vesuvius Challenge, a competition offering a substantial prize of $1 million to tackle the longstanding problem.
Unprecedented Insight
The deciphered text, believed to be authored by philosopher Philodemus, sheds light on subjects such as music, gastronomy, and the pursuit of pleasure, providing a glimpse into ancient philosophical thought.
Technological Process
The "virtual unwrapping" technique involves CT-scanning the scroll to create a 3D scan, which is then analyzed using machine learning algorithms to detect and interpret inked regions.
Future Prospects
The breakthrough has sparked excitement among scholars and historians, with plans to further decode additional scrolls, potentially uncovering vast amounts of untapped historical knowledge stored within the Villa of the Papyri. Additionally, a new $100,000 grand prize has been announced for teams capable of deciphering at least 90% of all scanned scrolls.