X-rays Reveal Content of Scrolls Carbonized by Mt. Vesuvius

Researchers have used X-rays to identify contents of a papyrus that was damaged by volcanic eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago.

Several scrolls were found in Villa de Papiri in the city of Herculaneum which along with Pompeii, was destroyed in the eruption of 1979, The New York Times reported. The hot gases released by the volcano carbonized scrolls but did not burn them. However, the scrolls are too brittle to be opened. Researchers have so far used multispectral imaging to view contents of scrolls. However not all of the papyrus scrolls are viewable through multispectral imaging as the charcoal-based ink and carbonized papyrus are not distinguishable.

CNET reported that a team of researchers at Institute of Microelectronics and Microsystems has used X-rays to decipher contents of such scrolls. The technique is called phase-contrast tomography. The underlying principle; changes in speed of an X-ray beam passing through any material can be detected, even if subtle.

The team performed the technique on an unfurled scroll labelled P.Herc.Paris. 4. They were able to differentiate APN, HEY and KI, which the team believes are word fragments.

While the scroll is yet to be deciphered completely, the new method has excited researchers as other levels of the villa, which were destroyed in the eruption and are yet to be excavated, are said to contain a large number of scrolls.