AI Decodes Ancient Scrolls Buried by Mount Vesuvius: Revealing ‘Purple’ Holds Clues to Lost History
An ongoing machine learning project called the Vesuvius Challenge has made a significant breakthrough in decoding ancient scrolls that were buried under the volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. These carbonized scrolls, found in Pompeii and Herculaneum, have long been inaccessible due to their delicate condition. However, an AI program has now managed to uncover the first word in one of the relics after analyzing its residual ink elements. The word discovered is ‘purple’ or Πορφύραc in Greek.
Although the identification of the color purple may seem insignificant, experts are intrigued by what it could reveal. Purple isn’t commonly found in these ancient documents, and its significance in history cannot be undermined. Purple was associated with royalty, wealth, and even mockery. Pliny the Elder, for instance, delves into the production process of Tyrian purple from shellfish in his ‘natural history.’ The Gospel of Mark also mentions how Jesus was mocked, wearing purple robes before crucifixion. While the exact context of the scroll mentioning purple is still unknown, it holds great promise for uncovering a fascinating piece of lost history.
The breakthrough in visualizing the word ‘porphyras’ is credited to Luke Farritor, a 21-year-old computer student who won $40,000 as part of the Vesuvius Challenge for identifying ten additional letters on the same scroll. The team behind the project believes that with further analysis, the entire scroll, even with some missing words, can be recovered.
This AI-assisted analysis of the carbonized scrolls could also be extended to the hundreds of other relics that are yet to be decoded. These scrolls are believed to have belonged to a larger library amassed by Philodemus, an Epicurean philosopher. Experts anticipate that the potential recovery of this library could transform our understanding of the ancient world, comparable to the rediscovery of manuscripts during the Renaissance.
The archaeological significance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated. It is a testament to the power of artificial intelligence in unraveling the mysteries of the past. The effort put into decoding these ancient scrolls brings us one step closer to reimagining the history that was lost beneath the volcanic debris of Mount Vesuvius. As we delve deeper into these relics of the past, we may discover long-lost titles, such as the poems of Sappho, and gain invaluable insights into the lives and knowledge of our ancient predecessors.
The Vesuvius Challenge serves as a beacon of hope for the preservation and exploration of ancient artifacts. With the help of AI, we are unlocking the secrets of our past and piecing together fragments of history that were once deemed inaccessible. The discovery of ‘purple’ may be just the beginning, but it is an extraordinary place to start this journey of rediscovery. As this project progresses, we eagerly await the unveiling of more hidden treasures and revelations that will shape our understanding of ancient civilizations.
