Box 24 – From the Ashes

Box 24: From the Ashes

Completely burnt – and yet readable!

This box shows how versatile the use of AI systems is, based on an archaeological research project. In this project, machine learning algorithms are used to decipher carbonised ancient manuscripts from Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. X-ray scans of the manuscript scrolls are analysed using AI systems and a challenge is running to decipher specific words in the carbonised text fragments. The students try to decipher texts themselves and learn more about the research project and how exactly the use of AI systems is helping to unravel millennia-old secrets in the information text.