Ancient Scroll Revealed by Technology, Not by Unrolling

WHO:

Gizmodo - Scientists involved in reading the ancient scroll include a team of researchers utilizing advanced imaging technology.

WHAT:

Gizmodo - The scroll, which dates back approximately 2,000 years, was discovered in a volcanic region and was not physically unrolled for examination.

Gizmodo - Researchers used a technique called X-ray phase contrast tomography to read the text without opening the scroll.

WHERE:

Gizmodo - The scroll was found in Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

WHEN:

Gizmodo - The scroll is believed to have been created around 79 AD, the same year as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

HOW:

Gizmodo - The imaging technology allowed researchers to visualize the ink on the scroll, which was previously unreadable due to the damage caused by the volcanic heat.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 16:00 UTC)

Scientists have successfully read an ancient scroll from Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, using advanced imaging technology without physically unrolling it. The scroll, believed to date back to around 79 AD, was examined through a technique called X-ray phase contrast tomography, which allowed researchers to visualize the ink that was previously unreadable due to volcanic heat damage. This remarkable achievement sheds light on historical texts that have remained hidden for nearly two millennia.