homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Scientists may be able to read scrolls burned by lava in AD 79

In the year 79, the Vesuvius volcano erupted, wiping out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing at least 1,500 people. But while Pompeii usually takes the spotlight, it's Herculaneum that may provide us with key information.

Mihai Andrei
March 26, 2016 @ 11:39 am

share Share

In the year 79, the Vesuvius volcano erupted, wiping out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing at least 1,500 people. But while Pompeii usually takes the spotlight, it’s Herculaneum that may provide us with key information.

Brian Donovan, University of Auckland/Herculaneum Conservation Project

Archaeologists have found the so-called Herculaneum scrolls back in the 18th century, but have tried to decipher them in vain. The eruption was so violent that it covered the entire city in hot lava, basically freezing everything… by burning it. Needless to say, the scrolls were also damaged, though not completely scorched. Researchers have employed several techniques to help read the scroll collection but nothing seemed to work. Now, they’ve made a surprising discovery that may finally enable the deciphering: the scrolls were written with metallic ink, a technique that researchers didn’t even think existed back when the scrolls were penned.

Daniel Delattre, one of the study’s authors said in an interview with The Guardian:

“For nearly 2,000 years, we thought we knew everything, or almost everything, about the composition of antique ink used to write on papyrus. The highly specialised studies carried out at the European synchrotron show us that we must be wary of our ideas and that the ink also contained metal, notably lead in sizeable quantities.”

They made the discovery using an X-ray beam “100 billion times brighter than anything used in a hospital” from the European Radiation Synchrotron Facility. The beam still wasn’t strong enough to “see” the text, but it did offer some information on the ink and the scrolls themselves. That the ink is metallic is significant because it represents a contrast which can be studied, and it also shows just how many things we still don’t understand about Roman culture and technology.

“The highly specialised studies carried out at the European synchrotron show us that we must be wary of our ideas and that the ink also contained metal, notably lead in sizeable quantities.”

As for actually reading the text, there’s no fixed timeline on that, but with the constant rate at which technology is advancing means we may be able to do it in the foreseeable future.

The remains of about 332 bodies have been found at Herculaneum (300 in arched vaults discovered in 1980). The total number of casualties remains completely unknown. The papyri, containing a number of Greek philosophical texts, come from the only surviving library from antiquity that exists in its entirety. Most of the work discovered are associated with the philosopher and poet Philodemus of Gadara.

share Share

Drones Helps Researchers Uncover a Lost Mega-Fortress in Georgia

Researchers have long known about the formidable scale of the Dmanisis Gora fortress, but a recent study has unveiled its true magnitude. Using drone-based imagery and photogrammetry, a team of scientists has revealed that this 3,000-year-old structure in the Caucasus Mountains spans an astonishing 60 to 80 hectares. A cultural crossroads The South Caucasus is […]

Eating more peanuts, herbs, and spices can boost your gut microbiome

A small change in diets can make a big difference for your health.

Did your rent just surge? Blame this price-fixing AI landlord costing Americans $3.6 billion annually

AI is changing the housing market and renters are paying the price.

Melting Antarctic Ice Could Awaken 100 Hidden Volcanoes

As ice recedes, hidden volcanoes under Antarctica awaken, reshaping predictions for climate change.

This Hornet Can Drink 80% Alcohol Without Ever Getting Drunk and Scientists Finally Know Why

Oriental hornets never get intoxicated with alcohol no matter how strong the alcohol or how long they drink.

200 Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints unearthed on UK’s largest dinosaur highway

Thanks to a storm, these dinosaur footprints managed to remain preserved for 166 million years.

The Soviets sent most of its intellectuals to remote gulags. Decades later, those areas became more prosperous

A new study reveals that regions near Soviet GULAG camps are more prosperous today, thanks to the unintended legacy of intellectual capital of educated prisoners

Strange Painted Penis Bone Found in England Reveals Rituals From Roman Britain

An enigmatic artifact suggests ancient rituals tied to fertility and agricultural cycles.

Tiny Surfers: How Bats Use Warm Air Waves for Epic Migrations

The discovery that bats synchronize their migrations with storm fronts provides critical insights into their survival strategies.

Does taking part in Veganuary put people off meat in the long term? Here’s what the evidence shows

With millions participating annually, Veganuary is more than just a trend—it’s transforming attitudes towards meat.