Dr. Brent Seales, a computer scientist and co-founder of the Vesuvius Challenge, expressed excitement over the imaging results, noting that this scroll contains more readable text than previously scanned examples.
On February 5, 2025, researchers at Oxford University's Bodleian Library announced a breakthrough by generating the first image of the interior of a scroll from Herculaneum, which had been carbonized during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The scroll, known as PHerc. 172, was scanned using advanced X-ray techniques at Diamond Light Source, allowing scientists to create a 3D reconstruction of its layers and virtually unroll it for analysis.
Despite these advancements, most of the text remains undeciphered, with only a few words identified, including the ancient Greek term for 'disgust,' which appears twice.
The scrolls, originally part of a large library in Herculaneum thought to belong to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesonius, were discovered in a fragile state, with hundreds remaining untouched due to their delicate condition.
The Vesuvius Challenge, launched in 2023, invites engineers to develop AI methods to reveal more text from the scrolls, offering cash prizes for successful contributions.
Three of these scrolls are housed at the Bodleian Library, having been gifted by King George IV in 1804 after a trade involving kangaroos with King Ferdinand IV of Naples.
Last year, another Herculaneum scroll was partially read, discussing Greek Epicurean philosophy, which emphasizes finding fulfillment in everyday pleasures.
Peter Toth, curator at the Bodleian, emphasized the need for improved imaging technology that could potentially be used locally to preserve the fragile scrolls without transporting them.
For over 250 years, scholars and scientists have sought methods to read these scrolls, most of which are housed in the National Library of Naples.
The scrolls, made from papyrus, had previously crumbled when attempts were made to open them, leading to a cautious approach in handling these ancient texts.
Nicole Gilroy from the Bodleian Library highlighted the human connection to the scrolls, appreciating their historical significance and the link to those who created and stored these ancient documents.
