X-Rays Read Rare, Roman-Era Vesuvius Scroll

Herculaneum scroll
(Image: bbc.co.uk)

The BBC reported that a European-led scientific team used a 3-D X-ray tool to read a fragile scroll found near the southern Italian archaeological site of Herculaneum. The original document was nearly burned to a crisp during the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum in 79 A.D. Today, the scrolls simply fall apart at the slightest touch, which is why the X-ray technique offers some hope of reading the scripts on them.

The significance of the project cannot be underestimated. The reliability and completeness of ancient texts remain a moving target. To obtain material from antiquity that's as authentic and true as possible profoundly adds to our understanding of the ideas that shaped generations, and continues to do so.

Caesarian-Era Boat Found Off Italian Coast

Amphorae in the Musee Archaeologique/Saint Raphael.
These jars are similar to the amphorae found in
the shipwreck noted in the BBC piece.
(photo from Athena Review)

I admit I'm a sucker for stories about antiquity and archaeological finds related to Greece and Rome. With that in mind, I read with interest today's BBC article about the discovery of a presumed ancient Roman commercial vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. What's intriguing about the finding is that the boat is nearly intact, as it was concealed in mud for centuries. We'll see what mysteries the discovery illuminates, or what enigmas the ship generates for a new generation of archaeologists and those simply curious about the ancient days.