AI breakthrough enables scientists to read whole Roman scrolls once buried by the eruption of volcano Mount Vesuvius

Very recommendable! Amazing stuff! What an exciting effort! 2024's challenge is to go from reading a few passages to entire scrolls.

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"... The goal was to take computed tomography (CT) scans of what are known as the Herculaneum scrolls as well as machine-learning-based software and put these in the hands of tech-savvy sleuths from around the world in hopes someone could read the scrolls without even touching them. ...

While about 65 feet of hot ash might seem like the worst possible outcome for papyrus, the heat carbonized the scrolls, preserving them from the natural deteriorating effects of air. ..."

AI breakthrough enables scientists to read Roman scrolls once buried by Mount Vesuvius | ZDNET ZDNET In Depth: Go inside the 20-year journey to decode the Herculaneum scrolls, carbonized by a historic volcanic eruption two thousand years ago - and unreadable until now.

Resurrect an ancient library from the ashes of a volcano. Win $100,000. Make History. The Vesuvius Challenge is a machine learning and computer vision competition that in 2023 cracked the riddle of the Herculanum Papyri & awarded over $1,000,000 in prizes. 2024's challenge is to go from reading a few passages to entire scrolls.

Herculaneum scroll with red laser lines being scanned at Institut de France by Brent Seales and his team.

Brent Seales and Seth Parker (Digital Restoration Initiative project lead) scanning a replica of the Herculaneum scroll on the University of Kentucky campus.

Vesuvius Challenge