TED Talks Daily How AI is decoding ancient scrolls | Julian Schilliger and Youssef Nader
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Jan 24, 2025 
Julian Schilliger, a digital archaeologist, and Youssef Nader, an AI researcher, delve into their groundbreaking work on ancient scrolls from Herculaneum, which were buried by Mount Vesuvius. They reveal how AI and machine learning have allowed them to virtually unroll these scrolls, uncovering hidden texts that shed light on ancient cultures. Their collaborative efforts, supported by a passionate Discord community, showcase the transformative potential of technology in historical research. Discover how this innovative approach is reshaping our understanding of the past!
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Unrolling Ancient Scrolls
- Vesuvius Challenge winners used AI to virtually unroll Herculaneum scrolls, buried by Mount Vesuvius.
- These scrolls contain writings of a Greek philosopher, likely Philodemus of Gadara, on topics like music and pleasure.
The Vesuvius Challenge
- Julian Schilliger, a digital archaeologist, joined the Vesuvius Challenge to digitally unroll scrolls.
- He improved existing tools, collaborating with a team to annotate scroll data and create 3D representations.
Challenges of Unrolling
- Two main challenges remained: unrolling the scroll and making the ink visible.
- Julian Schilliger focused on the computer vision problem, using algorithms like optical flow for better tracking.