theguardian.com
Ancient Pompeii Scroll Deciphered Using AI
Using X-ray imaging and AI, researchers have partially deciphered PHerc. 172, a fire-damaged scroll from the Herculaneum library, revealing Ancient Greek text including the word "disgust"; this builds on the success of the Vesuvius Challenge and opens new avenues for reading damaged historical documents.
- How did the Vesuvius Challenge contribute to the successful reading of PHerc. 172, and what role did the ink density play?
- The success in reading PHerc. 172 builds upon the Vesuvius Challenge, a competition that awarded $700,000 to a team that developed software to virtually unwrap and read another Herculaneum scroll. The use of denser ink in PHerc. 172 contributed to its readability, highlighting the importance of material properties in preservation.
- What significant progress has been achieved in reading ancient scrolls from Pompeii, and what are the immediate implications?
- Researchers have virtually unrolled a fire-damaged scroll from Pompeii using X-ray imaging and AI, revealing legible Ancient Greek text including the word "disgust" appearing twice. This scroll, PHerc. 172, contains more readable text than any previously scanned Herculaneum scroll, showcasing significant progress in the Vesuvius Challenge.
- What are the potential long-term implications of this technological advancement for accessing and understanding other historically significant, damaged texts?
- This breakthrough in reading ancient scrolls demonstrates the potential of combining advanced imaging techniques and AI for deciphering other historically significant, damaged documents. Future research may focus on applying this methodology to other fragile artifacts, expanding our understanding of antiquity.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative emphasizes the technological marvel of digitally unrolling the scroll and the collaborative efforts of researchers, framing the story as a triumph of science and technology. The focus on the process overshadows the potential historical significance of the recovered text. The headline, if one were to be crafted based on the article, would likely focus on the technological achievement rather than the historical content.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral and objective, using precise terminology to describe the scientific process. However, phrases like "thrilled" and "astonishing strides forward" reveal a slightly celebratory tone, which could be considered subjective. This could be improved by using more neutral language such as "successful imaging" and "significant progress.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the technological achievement of unrolling and reading the scroll, with limited discussion of the historical context or potential significance of the text itself. While it mentions the scroll's content contains the word "disgust" and that another scroll discussed pleasure, it doesn't delve into the broader implications of these findings for understanding Roman culture or philosophy. This omission might limit the reader's ability to fully grasp the importance of the discovery.
Sustainable Development Goals
The research and development of new technologies for reading ancient scrolls contributes to advancements in education and knowledge preservation. The project fostered collaboration between librarians, computer scientists, and classicists, promoting interdisciplinary learning and knowledge sharing. The success of the Vesuvius Challenge in utilizing AI and imaging to decipher ancient texts showcases the potential of technology in education and research.