Writing seen in PHerc. 306B, for the first time in 2000 years

Liam Warner and Nicola Bodill have won a $50,000 First Letters Prize in the Vesuvius Challenge by recovering readable text from the carbonized Herculaneum scroll PHerc. 306B. Using custom and public machine learning ink detection models alongside 3D micro-CT scan analysis, the team identified the Greek expression meaning that which is in itself desirable. This breakthrough marks the first time writing has been read from this scroll in 2,000 years. Open article →