Researchers recreate ancient burned scrolls to test X-ray reading method
Scientists created modern papyrus scrolls with lead-based ink, burned them, and used X-ray CT to read the text without unrolling. The lead absorbs X-rays up to 25 times more than charred papyrus, making letters visible. This technique could help decipher the carbonized scrolls from Herculaneum, preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
The experiment involved crafting scrolls with materials matching ancient production methods, then charring them in a furnace to simulate the volcanic conditions that preserved Herculaneum's library. X-ray scans revealed that lead-based ink creates strong contrast against carbonized papyrus, allowing letters to be distinguished without physically opening the scrolls. A handheld fluorescence scanner can also identify which scrolls contain leaded ink, offering a quick screening tool.
The technique builds on earlier virtual unrolling efforts that have already recovered texts from a handful of scrolls, many attributed to the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus. Since the library's discovery in 1752, attempts to physically open scrolls often destroyed them, leading authorities to halt such practices. The new lead-detection method could help prioritize which of the remaining 1,800 scrolls and fragments are most likely to yield readable text.
The ability to read carbonized scrolls without damaging them could unlock philosophical and literary works lost for nearly two millennia. Scholars may gain access to Epicurean texts that could reshape understanding of ancient thought, while museums holding Herculaneum materials might face decisions about prioritizing scans. The technique's success could also encourage similar approaches to other fire-damaged manuscripts worldwide. However, the method's reliance on lead-based ink means scrolls written with carbon-based inks may remain unreadable, limiting its broader application.