Herculaneum Scrolls

The Herculaneum Scrolls are ancient manuscripts dating back to the first century AD, discovered buried beneath volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in Italy. They are primarily scrolls made of parchment containing writings of Greek and Roman philosophers, scientists, and poets. The intense heat and ash caused the scrolls to carbonize but also partially preserved them, making their contents difficult to read. Modern technologies like imaging and spectroscopy now help scholars decode these texts without unrolling or damaging them, offering invaluable insights into ancient knowledge and culture.