Students Decipher an Ancient Scroll with the Help of AI

🧑‍🎓📜🔥 Three students have deciphered a papyrus scroll over 2,000 years old. The papyrus was discovered during excavations in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which was buried alongside Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius 🌋 The researchers trained algorithms to scan the folded papyrus, enabling them to read hundreds of words – approximately 5% of the scroll's content. This achievement is unprecedented. They were awarded a prize of $700,000 💰 for their discovery.

The scrolls, unearthed in the 18th century, remained unreadable for centuries due to their fragile, charred condition, which crumbled when attempts were made to unroll them.

Computer scientist Brent Seales from the University of Kentucky and his team have been attempting to decipher the texts for nearly 20 years, developing a technique called "virtual unrolling." However, the scanning process was time-consuming, and the ink on the scans was indistinguishable.

In March 2023, the Vesuvius Challenge was launched, inviting participants to find a way to read text passages from the scrolls.

The three young scientists utilized AI and 3D mapping to take thousands of 3D images, which they then flattened and analyzed with AI to locate inked areas. The photo above shows the deciphered ancient Greek word "πορφύρας," which means "purple" 🟣

By using algorithms to unroll the scrolls from CT images digitally, the AI succeeded in reading much more content than expected.

The translated text discusses the senses and sources of pleasure and is likely part of the library of Philodemus.

Scientists hope that AI can help access other ancient hidden knowledge, such as deciphering the texts on papyrus scrolls wrapped around Egyptian mummies.

Elon Musk has expressed interest in funding further research in this field, promising to invest "whatever amount is useful."

This breakthrough could lead to more discoveries in Herculaneum.

#news @hiaimediaen